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Darmstadt reports small operating deficit, sewer utility shortfall and resolves autopay issues
Summary
At the March 18 meeting, Clerk-Treasurer Mallory Lowe reported a $803 town operating deficit and a $5,021 sewer-utility shortfall for the previous month, noted returned autopay transactions affecting four customers, and said staff have corrected billing records and contacted affected residents.
Darmstadt — At its March 18 meeting the Darmstadt Town Council heard the clerk-treasurer’s monthly financial report, which showed a modest general-fund deficit and a larger shortfall in the sewer utility, and discussed steps taken to resolve autopay and billing mismatches.
Clerk-Treasurer Mallory Lowe told the council the town received $30,812 in tax revenues while expenditures were $31,615, producing a $803 shortfall. In the Sewer Utility, she reported collections of $52,472 and expenditures of $57,493, a $5,021 deficit.
Lowe said the second autopay run for the sewer department ‘‘went more smoothly than the first’’ but four autopay transactions were returned because customers submitted incorrect account or routing numbers; Lowe contacted those customers and obtained corrected information. She said Old National Bank charged the town $43 for the January autopay transactions. Lowe also noted that sewer superintendents completed their annual inventory of sewer accounts and provided a list of about 20 accounts needing updates to ensure accurate billing for flat fees, city water fees and well-user fees.
The council approved last month’s financial report and accounts payable on unanimous (4-0) voice votes during the meeting.
Why it matters: The reported shortfalls underscore the budget pressures on small-town services and the operational work required to keep utility billing accurate. The steps Lowe described — customer outreach, affidavit updates and account inventory — are intended to limit future revenue loss and billing disputes.
The meeting minutes record no further decisions tied to the financial report; council adjourned at 7:48 p.m.
