The first of two budget reopeners for Vernal City was held during Wednesday’s city council meeting. City Manager Ken Bassett explained that the first reopener comes at this time of the fiscal year so that the city knows exactly where it sits in revenues and expenditures in order to make any adjustments before the end of the fiscal year. As presented, the general fund balance sits at $9,804,150 dollars. The utility fund’s water revenue amounts to $2,453,900 dollars while expenses are at $2,507,720 dollars. Sewer revenue amounts to $1,685,300 dollars while sewer expenses total $1,749,950 dollars. Bassett noted that while the highway tax money is coming in as expected, the optional sales tax adopted a year ago has not been coming in as anticipated. He also emphasized that the committees and department heads have been through meetings and budgets have continued to be cut. “Considering the state of the economy we are still sitting okay,” said Bassett. “We have not touched any of the capital project funds…We still have money in those funds but fortunately have not had to use them this year.”
