HAYMARKET, VA. - A budget discussion became heated at a Haymarket Town Council meeting this week when one council member questioned the way the town has been handling its expenses.
Councilman Bob Weir said he has been concerned about overspending in the town for the past several months.
At a March town council meeting, the council asked that any budget changes or over-expenditures should be brought to the council each month for approval, according to town documents.
At the council's Monday night meeting, Town Manager Gene Swearingen presented a list of five areas in which the town has gone over budget this year.
The list, which detailed a total of $11,625 in over-expenditures, included extra money needed for things like snow removal, removing holiday banners and maintaining police vehicles.
Swearingen said the over-expenditures would be covered by over $21,000 in extra revenue the town got from renting the town hall.
Weir questioned the town departments' past practice of going over budget without council approval.
"This is not how you do it," Weir said, "Why do I spend hours upon hours in budget meetings … if we're not going to follow it."
Weir said in other jurisdictions, departments ask for approval before going over budget.
James Naradzay, the town's Chief Financial Officer, agreed that there has been too much overspending in the town government.
"Too many people have the power to put the town in debt," Naradzay said.
In his April report to the council, Naradzay identified 27 over-budget items in the current year's budget, totally over $30,000.
Vice Mayor John Cole said that despite the over-expenditures, the town's budget is still in good shape.
"It's not like we are wholly irresponsible and spending willy-nilly," Cole said.
The town council voted Monday to make Mayor Pam Stutz the "gatekeeper" of the budget, meaning that she must sign off on any over-expenditures in advance.
Haymarket's budget for 2009-2010 is about $1.56 million. The town council is currently developing its budget for next year. Their next budget work session is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m.
Staff writer Amanda Stewart can be reached at 703-530-3908.
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