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Lebanon council debates merging water, sewer and streets into a single Public Works department amid a multi‑year revenue shortfall
Summary
Councilmembers heard a detailed finance briefing showing multi‑year revenue losses and a roughly $593,000 shortfall, and debated a proposal to create a Department of Public Works and hire a director to streamline staff and equipment and seek about $312,000 in annual payroll/benefit savings; no final vote was taken and the council moved to executive session.
Mayor Charlie Whitty called the council to order and the meeting turned quickly to a proposal to combine the city’s water and sewer operations with its streets and alleys into a single Department of Public Works.
Jess, who presented the city’s financial analysis, told the council that state funding cuts and other trends have left Lebanon with a substantial revenue gap. “From 2012 to 2024, since they have made this cut, Lebanon has lost $3,854,951 from the state,” she said, and later summarized the near‑term picture: “If you look closely … our budgeted money from our actual money received this year, we are short $593,000.”
Jess said the administration’s proposal would create a superintendent/public works director post, give current water, sewer and streets employees priority for positions,…
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