Amador County – The Ione City Council on Tuesday heard its budget has improved another $45,000 over projections through the month of April. ¶ Interim City Manager Jeff Butzlaff said: “It’s a moving target but it’s moving in the right direction.” The council hadn’t had monthly budget reports and finally got the financial situation to the point in January that they were able to start tracking monthly budget reports.

The April budget report showed finances improving, and “no more new surprises,” Butzlaff said. They will try to keep expenditures well within the adopted budget and try to exceed general fund revenues. He said adjustments and retirements set up the 2012-2013 budget balance further.

Butzlaff said an acting police chief approach will save money. Ione Police Chief Michael L. Johnson’s last day with Ione is May 21 and Sergeant Rocky Harpham will take over as acting chief of police. Johnson submitted his formal resignation last week, to be chief for the city of Anderson in Shasta County. Johnson announced some time ago that he was in the application process.

The acting chief will have less pay, and the Ione Police Department will be an officer short for a while, Butzlaff said. They will cover it with overtime and volunteer reserve officers.

Budget changes enacted since Butzlaff took over are lining up future financial stability, he said. The adopted budget in February showed the city would end the year with a $230,000 general fund shortage but the recent budget workshop showed a higher revenue stream, reducing the deficit by $45,000 to about $189,000. The rest of the fiscal year should reduce it more, he said.

Effects would not fully show until October, because of retiring costs related to payouts for sick leave and vacation accumulated. The city will receive the benefits of reductions in the next fiscal year. He said the $230,000 deficit was less than half of what they started with, and in the new fiscal year in 2012-2013 with a fresh slate, and will fully realize the reductions.

He said Vehicle License Fees are not in the budget, but “we are confident that is going to be dealt with by the Legislature.”

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.