Nathan Prewett
CLAY, Ala. – A resolution requiring agencies outside of the Clay city government to provide information about how they spend allocated funds was tabled after extensive discussion and concerns from some on the city council on Tuesday, April 21.
Mayor Jane Anderton described the resolution as “accountability” for outside agencies that the city funds, such as the Jefferson County Board of Education, saying that it will allow a way for the city to monitor how those funds are spent.
“I’m asking for accountability for the outside agencies that we give money to,” Anderton told the Tribune. “Of course, the largest one is our education system, [JEFCOED]. So, I’m just asking for some accountability because we in the past have given them large amounts and I think accountability is important.”
It was a way to handle the appropriations all at once when working on the budget, she said. Councilor Nathan Thompson expressed that he was more comfortable with a “case by case” approach. He later added that there could be a potential problem with agencies such as schools having access to the information that would be required by the council.
“I just think we’re doing this each time we appropriate the funds, so I don’t see this as being a necessary policy,” he said and added stated: “I just see it as additional burdens. I’m not saying that they’re not accountable, I just see it as additional burdens to the outside agencies that we work with.”
Anderson replied that the resolution provides transparency. Councilor Jody Harris felt that it would be seen as a lack of trust from the city.
“I see it as kind of saying that we’ll give you the money, but we don’t trust you to spend it the way you said you would,” he said.
The council approved an amendment to the opening sentence of a section regarding the regularity of appropriations, which originally read, “All funding under this Ordinance shall be subject to annual appropriation by the City Council.”
It now reads, “Any funding under this Ordinance shall be subject to appropriation by the City Council.”
But with questions still surrounding the item, the council ultimately decided to table it until the next meeting on May 12.
“I think we need to table and everybody go back and do a second reading, a third reading and totally dissect it and come up with all the questions,” said Councilor Carla Youngblood. “That way we can really get to the bottom of it, to make sure it says just what we want it to say and it’s not saying too much where we think we’re stepping on toes but we’re being accountable for the city’s money and to our citizens.”
Following this was a resolution to authorize designated employees to be issued procurement cards and establish individual credit card limits per month, with an amendment to add the library director and assistant director for a limit of $5,000 and $2,000 respectively.
Opposing the measure, Thompson stated that he believed the amount of funds being allocated was too much, at $876,000 per year. Youngblood, who is the finance committee chair, said that the resolution is similar to a safety net that the council has when needed and that the max amount won’t likely be spent each month.
After further discussion, Thompson reiterated that he believed the amount was too high. The measure was passed after a 5-1 vote, with Thompson being the sole “no” vote.
Additionally, the council held the first reading for a resolution that would levy a 5 mill ad valorem tax, creating a designated fund for the local schools within the city limits.
During public comments Maureen Thompson asked what specifically the funds would be used for, such as sports, faculty, buildings, and so on to which Anderton replied that the schools would notify the city about what is needed. Thompson then questioned if the 5 mill was really needed, given the $11 million that the city has as mentioned in a report by Harris.
As the item was a first reading, there was no action taken and will be brought back for a public hearing at the May 12 meeting.
Lastly, the council set a date of May 4 at 6 p.m. for a hearing regarding a terminated employee.
In other business the council:
- Approved contracts with Herbicide Applicators, Online Solutions and Neumo Group, and
- Authorized a 1% cost of living adjustment for all city employees.
Nathan Prewett can be reached at nthomasp6@gmail.com.
