In May 21 Issue
By Derek Aaron
Times Journal Reporter

Russell Springs Mayor Hollis DeHart gave what he called his "annual budget talk" at last Thursday's Russell Springs City Council meeting following the first reading of the city's budget ordinance for 2009-2010, ordinance 2009-04.

"When you're dealing with a budget of this nature you're talking about a living, vibrant government document," the mayor said. "A budget is not static but rather it is dynamic because it is always in a state of change."

DeHart said it was the city's hope that they have underestimated the revenue brought in and overestimated the expenditures.

"We can spend every penny penny that we take in, every penny of carryover money and every penny of estimated revenue, but we don't do that because I believe we must be prepared for unforeseen expenses, emergencies and other contingencies," he said. "None of us knows exactly what this economic situation still may bring us."

DeHart said if the city ends up with more revenue than what is shown on the budget that will be what the city was targeting for.

The mayor said the budget is in flux and can be changed through budget amendments.

"That is always your call," he told the council. "It is not my call."

"If budgets were perfect there would never be a necessity to amend a budget therefore a budget is a work in progress and we don't believe in spending money just to get rid of it or just because we have it but we spend it to better the lives of our citizens," DeHart said.

In other happenings at the meeting:

• The city's leaders heard a resolution for the applying for the The COPS grant. COPS stands for community oriented policing services, DeHart said.

The proposed grant would pay for a police officer's salary for a three-year period, he said.

The city formally applied for the grant through the United States Department of Justice.

If the city is granted the program it would be known as the Russell Springs Community Oriented Policing Services program.

The resolution gives the mayor and Police Chief Joseph M. Irvin the authority to review and sign the necessary documents in order to receive the grant.

• The council heard the second reading of Ordinance 2009-03, an intent to annex an area around Foley Rd., Delphia St., Old Dunnville Rd. and Campground Rd., an area with around 65-70 property owners.

"We'll have to go through this a couple more times," DeHart said.

"This just gives us the right to put it in the paper and to inform the people how they can go about making comments on it or getting a petition of they want to defeat it."