FLEMINGSBURG — Added expenses to utilities caused Flemingsburg City Council to amend its current utility budget until the next fiscal year coming in July.

Council met Monday evening to amend the current utilities budget for the fiscal year, after unanticipated expenses were made. According to Mayor Marty Voiers, the amendment was made to cover the added expenses.

“We had exceeded the budgeted appropriations for the gas department expenses,” he said. “We had a couple of projects that came up unexpectedly, repairs that had to be done that put us over what we had anticipated on that.”

The original budget allowed $298,983 for gas expenses, but added expenses brought it to $378,355. Voiers said there were a couple of instances where gas lines were broken and were in need of repairs, which contributed to increased spending.

“By statute, we can’t exceed the budget amount, so we had to go back and make an amendment to that; but since we had more revenue that came in on gas than we anticipated, it balanced out pretty well,” Voiers said.

With the combination of roll-over funds and increased revenue, the added funds are expected to offset the expenses of the gas department.

A municipal road aid resolution was also approved by the council, which will give the city about $51,540 to fund repair projects on roads within the city. The proposed projects include Mills Avenue, Frazier Street, Mitchell Street, Glascock Drive, Highland Drive, Sharon Lane, Lawrence Lane and repairing sidewalks. The resolution will come into effect on July 1.

In old business, the council conducted and approved the second reading of its general budget for the next fiscal year, effective July 1. Estimated resources available equate to around $2.6 million with some expenses including $437,868 for general government, $620,124.36 for police and $506,880.47 for streets and sanitation.

Finalization of the city’s utility budget by the council was also approved and will be effective July 1. Total resources available are estimated at $6,234,245; with expenses for general utilities at $87,395; $1,013,461 for sewer department expenses and debt services; and $2,657,285 for total water, gas and wastewater expenditures.

Jonathan Wright

[email protected]