Council corrects budget accounting errors, calls public hearings and confirms several appointments

City staff corrected prior budget statements, the council called public hearings on the budget and tax rate, and the council confirmed several appointments during the Aug. 24 Paris City Council meeting.

A presenter identified during the meeting as Mister Path told the council that an earlier slide misstated a reserve amount and that staff later discovered two amendments plus a $20,000 administrative omission in the software. He said the apparent $650,000 decrease was an accounting adjustment and that the actual net increase was “a little less than $200,000.” He apologized for the earlier error and invited questions.

Council members asked about specific items, including a telephone/police phone purchase that had required a $120,000 draw from reserves late in the prior year; staff said some amounts were budgeted but not spent and that staff expects to seek reimbursement for eligible Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) expenditures.

The council passed a resolution calling a public hearing on the proposed FY2021 budget and a separate resolution calling a public hearing on the proposed tax rate; both motions were approved by voice vote. The council also appointed Jeff Sugg to an airport advisory board vacancy and voted to confirm the city manager’s interim appointments of Thomas McMonagle as interim fire chief and Randy Tuttle as interim police chief pursuant to a cited Texas Local Government Code reference.

The council then convened briefly into an executive session under Texas Government Code section 551.071 for attorney consultation on pending or contemplated litigation and returned reporting that it received legal advice and that no action was taken.