Monterey Finance Committee Chairman Jamie Phillips said his recent meeting with MTAS has helped him better understand the town’s budget.
Phillips said during the meeting, MTAS provided some ideas to help overcome this year’s budget starting spot of a $1 million shortfall. For example, Phillips said MTAS recommended selling off unsustainable departments like the sanitation, water and sewer departments.
“That’s not something that I am looking at us doing is eliminating any kind of jobs or departments or putting a huge burden on the backs of the employees here, cause we have great employees and they are the backbone of our city,” Phillips said. “We have had a lot of longevity within these employees, and we want to keep them.”
Phillips said MTAS also suggested increasing water and garbage rates. Phillips said the finance committee is looking into the rates and will try not to increase rates more than absolutely necessary.
“We want to keep those increases at a minimum because we know our customers, you know, times are tough, especially for a lot of folks,” Phillips said. “Even small increases will impact some more than others, and so we are trying to be considerate of everybody’s financial situation, as well as we are trying to navigate our issues as well.”
Phillips said the town does have a built-up emergency fund that is providing a safety net.
“Ideally, we would have another customer take the place of Perdue,” Phillips said. “It would help with that side of the water and sewer, but right now we have to prepare as if no one is, and so those emergencies that we have can help us in that area, and going forward we will develop a plan for the next and going on.”
Phillips said he had reached out to MTAS to help him better understand his responsibilities as a first-time alderman. Phillips said he is confident that the finance committee will be able to balance the budget.
