By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
The final Bucyrus City Council meeting for 2014 meant one last chance to cross every “t” and dot every “i” when it comes to the city’s finances.
Auditor Joyce Schifer had been hard at work making last minute adjustments to finish out the 2014 finances and prepare for the 2015 budget.
“For the year end we have a balance and a budget next year,” Schifer said at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. “I can’t tell you how happy I am.” Schifer also joked that she was responsible for most of legislation on the agenda for the night.
There were six pieces of legislation on the agenda, five of which pertained to transfers, appropriations, and the 2015 budget.
• Ordinance 54-2014 appropriated $46,300 in General Funds to Program VII-General Government;
• Ordinance 55-2014 made various appropriation reductions. The reductions were made to bring each appropriation in line with revenues;
• Ordinance 56-2014 made various transfers; and
• Ordinance 57-2014 set out the budget for 2015.
The council also passed two resolutions during the meeting. One resolution authorized the auditor to advance funds from the General Fund – not to exceed $163,800 – to fund outstanding obligations. These advances will be returned to the General Fund in 2015 once the city has received the grant funds.
The second resolution authorized the Service/Safety Director to enter into a lease agreement with the Bucyrus Community Theatre Inc. The group will lease the former Schines Theatre to the city for $1 for a period not to exceed two years. The leasing of the property allows the city to come in compliance with the grant being administered by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Once the building has been demolished, the property will officially be deeded over to the city to become the Schines Art Park.
A Traffic Commission meeting has been scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 19.