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Residents press Saltville council on budget transparency as town manager says audit delays are holding up projects
Summary
A public commenter urged the council to provide the legally required appropriation documents, and Town Manager Cecile Rosenbaum said auditors are awaiting documentation tied to the 2023 EMS transfer; council approved the July check listing and surplus equipment list while SIDA reported near $301,000 on hand and upcoming CD maturities.
A resident urged the Saltville Town Council on Aug. 12 to comply with the Commonwealth's appropriation rules, while the town manager said outstanding audit items were limiting the town's ability to close loans for infrastructure projects.
"I want to see a budget sheet which is required by the Va code ... they need to be appropriating funds and because they haven't, it has raised concerns," said Julie Loggins during Citizen's Time, pressing the council to provide the statutory appropriation documentation.
Town Manager Cecile Rosenbaum told the council that much of staff time has been spent supplying auditors with documentation and that outstanding questions — notably paperwork tied to the May 2023 transfer of Saltville EMS to the county — have delayed loan closings and project progress. Rosenbaum said she is working with VRA and Rural Development contacts and will add appropriation resolutions to the Sept. 9 meeting agenda for council consideration.
During the meeting SIDA chairman Ron Orr presented his monthly statement: a current bank balance of about $300,982.24 and certificates of deposit totaling approximately $329,723.01, with both CDs recorded as maturing Aug. 28, 2025. Orr also disclosed an outstanding line of credit balance for an old town shop and noted a planned town transfer of $300,000 for 2025-26.
The council approved the July check listing and a motion to send a list of public‑works items to surplus. The packet included multiple vendor payments, among them a $52,349 invoice to Stantec Consulting and earlier accounting entries showing a $61,241 SIDA portion of a SCADA invoice.
Why it matters: Appropriation of funds is a statutory duty that affects the town's ability to obligate and spend money, and unresolved audit items can delay loan closings and project timetables. SIDA's near-term cash position and maturing CDs will affect the authority's liquidity decisions.
Next steps: Rosenbaum will continue providing documentation to auditors, place appropriation language on the Sept. 9 agenda, and coordinate with SIDA and contractors on reimbursements and project timing. Council approved the check listing and surplus list; no additional appropriations were adopted at the Aug. 12 meeting.
