By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
The Bronson Town Council overspent its budget by $222,000 last year, according to the town auditor, and the water and sewer department operated at a $236,000 loss for the same period.
Terry Kite of Purvis and Gray, the town’s auditor, presented the audit numbers Monday for the annual budget ending on Sept. 30, 2017, noting that some of the overspending was due to excessive overtime for employees.
Kite said he didn’t have the exact numbers on overtime. He said total overtime paid last year wasn’t in the audit report.
He said water and sewer rates may have to be raised, or expenses lowered, to offset the overspending in that area of the town’s budget.
Kite added that if depreciation is removed, the water and sewer department saw an increase in revenues of $14,283. Depreciation is a reduction in the value of the water and sewer system over time due to wear and tear. In a perfect world, water and sewer rates should be high enough to replace failing equipment as it wears out. That isn’t the case in Bronson.
Kite also suggested the town figure out a way to separate accounting jobs in Town Hall “to prevent errors and irregularities from occurring.” He said the auditors had to make corrections because there is no good system in place to catch errors in accounting. The town has an extremely small staff, making it difficult to separate accounting jobs.
He suggested the council consider hiring an outside accountant to visit Town Hall near the end of the budget year to clean up the accounting.
On the subject of overtime, he said “in some cases, it exceeded the budget amount.” He recommended overtime be managed more carefully by giving approval before employees are allowed to work the hours. Using that technique should help the city stay within its budget.
He added that water and sewer funds should have separate accounting procedures to meet the loan requirements of the United States Department of Agriculture. The USDA approved sewer expansion loan for the town.
Kite said town paid for the health insurance premium on behalf of an employee for years, which isn’t allowed. He said $5,000 was paid out to the employee. He didn’t name the employee.
“We really should try to get that money back,” he said.
IN OTHER BUSINESS:
• The town was notified that an approved state grant to repave Picnic Street – the Small County Outreach Program (SCOP) grant – can’t be used to build a sidewalk along the street as originally planned. The state won’t allow the sidewalk unless there is surplus money left over when the street paving is finished. The council postponed a decision on the matter.
• David Robertson, a US Army officer with 16 years of military experience, and an attorney with 20 years of experience, appeared before the town council asking the council to support his run for circuit judge in the 8th Circuit, Group 8. Robertson was Florida Department of Transportation Chief Counsel for 10 years, advising the agency on a billion dollar annual road work program. He has served as a prosecutor, defense counsel, and legal advisor. He served as Major Subordinate Command Judge Advocate for the Florida National Guard. He is a long time Alachua County resident and a husband and father with six children.
Photo by Terry Witt: Terry Kite of Purvis and Gray, the Bronson Town Council auditor, explains issues related to overspending in last year’s budget.
Regular Town of Bronson Meeting May 21, 2018
Posted May 21, 2018
