Clarksville, TN – At the monthly City Department Head meeting held on September 14th, the current state of the economy was the major topic.
After discussing the delays in the economic recovery, the possible substantial cuts in both the Federal and State budgets and the future increased obligations on the General Fund because of refinancing of bonded indebtedness in previous budgets, Mayor McMillan asked the Department Heads to look for cuts of up to 5% from their current 2011-12 budgets.
“What I have asked City Departments to do is consistent with what most state and local governments are doing across the country-getting prepared for fewer funds from Washington,” said McMillan. “Just last month, Gov. Bill Haslam asked all departments of state government to trim their budgets by at least 5%. It just makes good sense to get prepared for what is coming.” McMillan stated.
The Mayor stressed that this action was not related to the current city budget but was about the Mayor and the Department Heads taking a proactive approach to the continuing and possible future stresses on Federal and State budgets that would ultimately trickle down to the City budget.
The possible cuts are not actions that require City Council approval but are methods to make sure all departments of city government are operating as lean as possible to build the city fund balance in anticipation of reductions from the State and Federal Governments.
McMillan concluded the meeting by taking the opportunity to “let the citizens of Clarksville know that her administration is committed to doing what it can to avoid a property tax increase during tough economic times.”
