Council member warns utilities fund is low and objects to paying salaries from water account

During the hearing a committee member urged caution about using utility funds to cover personnel costs. The member warned that paying the clerk-treasurer and deputy from utilities "would take $62,340 out of utilities for those 2 positions" and described the water account as "lower than 40,000," calling the water fund 'critical' and urging the council to prioritize a pending utility rate adjustment before approving such charges.

The member recommended against paying anything for non-utility work from the water account except for the water operator, and suggested the council explore moving money from other line items or preparing an ordinance to reallocate funds instead of tapping the utilities fund. Council discussion referenced a prior vote to move the deputy into utilities the previous year and agreed further scrutiny is needed before final appropriations.