Town slashes budget

The franchise agreement between the town of Saratoga and Carbon Power and Light (CP&L) not only contributed a large amount of controversy in Saratoga, but left a large gap in the town’s 2014-2015 fiscal budget.

The budget lists $299,600 in revenues to arrive from franchise agreements. The number was increased by more than $259,600 from the 2013-2014 fiscal year budget.

After it was announced at the July 15 meeting there would not be a fee imposed on CP&L, town departments quickly went to work on reducing their budget. Mayor of Saratoga John Zeiger told the Saratoga Sun budget cuts had been successful, and there would be a budget amendment at a September town council meeting.

Town Clerk Suzie Cox said in an interview last week there would not be a budget amendment because the funds came out of operational funds, and not enterprise funds.

Dave Johnson, Deputy Director of the Wyoming Association Municipalities, confirmed municipalities have “more flexibility” to move money around within their operational budgets than with their enterprise funds.

A list provided to the Saratoga Sun by Cox lists reductions in the operational budgets for all town departments. Cox said

The town hall operational budget was hit the hardest with a reduction of $85,000. Cox said most of the budget cuts were mainly concerned with maintenance.

One of the most noticeable cuts will be towards Saratoga Lake. Almost all improvement projects slated for the lake were postponed due to budget cuts.

Budget cuts took its tool on the Saratoga Police Department as well. Chief of Police Tom Knickerbocker said the $78,461 reduction has kept his department from purchasing a new pickup for his force. Knickerbocker said the pickups his department currently has are in dire need of replacement. Additionally, many of the equipment the police force uses, dashboard cameras, needs replacement.

“Right now, I am at the point where if something goes down, I don’t have the money to replace it,” he said. “It could be detrimental if we have equipment go down.”

The Recreation Department lost $10,000 from their operational budget. Recreation Department Director Lisa Burton said she was not able to give specific items to cut at this point, but she said many of the activities her department will suffer because of the cuts.

“In the long run, it affects what programs and projects we will be able to do,” Burton said.

Zeiger said the operational budget reductions were unfortunate, but necessary to maintain the town’s finances.

“We will have to just have to make do,” Zeiger said. “Hopefully things will get better.”

Budget reductions

Initial Franchise Fee Revenues $299,600

Reduced by $259,600

Amount reduced

out of operational funds

Town Hall $-85,000

Police Department $-78,461

Streets $-18,151

Lake $-25,000

Parks $-45,550

Recreation $-10,000

Swimming Pool $-3,938

Court $-13,000

Community Garden $-2,500

Fire Department $-4,000

Total reductions $-259,000