Auditor: City of Worland has healthy budget

WORLAND — The City of Worland is one of the only incorporated municipalities without indebtedness in the Big Horn Basin, according to certified public accountant James Seckman who submitted the city’s annual audit report to the city council Tuesday night.

Seckman said the city received a clean or unqualified opinion for the 2019-20 fiscal year audit.

He also reported that the city’s enterprise funds – water, wastewater and sanitation, all had healthy reserves.

According to the audit report as presented by Seckman, the city had revenues of $8.8 million with 55% coming from charges for city services. He said property tax accounts for just 6% of the city’s revenues. Intergovernmental revenues account for 42% of the revenues.

The function of the audit, Seckman said, “is to assess the reasonableness of rates and reasonableness of reserves. We also test for compliance with laws, regulations, contracts and grant agreements.”

Under expenses the enterprise funds account for 47% of the total city expenses. City services make up 16%, the police department 20% and city government 8%.

Seckman said the City of Worland has no outstanding debt and is the only city in the Big Horn Basin for which his company does the audits with no debt.

“You have a very healthy financial position. Regarding your general fund, most cities have a tough time creating a balance budget, but you had $349,000 excess revenues, which is a testament to the leanness you have in your budget citywide.”

MUNICIPAL COURT

The council approved a request from Municipal Court Judge Marcy Argeris to allow regular court dates on the second Tuesday of each month through December. Argeris had initially requested to allow municipal court to be permanently held at the city hall. She said there are several benefits because they would have access anytime whereas when circuit court is open they have to schedule court around circuit court.

Currently most in-person hearings in circuit court and district court are closed by order of the Wyoming Supreme Court.

Argeris said she would also like to investigate a portable recording system that they can use rather than using the circuit court system.

She would also like to consider purchase of a portable card reader to take payments for fines after court once municipal court moves back to the courthouse.

City Attorney Kent Richins spoke against a permanent move to city hall due to safety concerns.

Mayor Jim Gill added that the council chambers is the only large meeting room and he would prefer to not have the room taken up on a regular basis anymore than it already is, noting the Board of Adjustment and Planning Commission meets there twice a month, when COVID-19 protocols are not in place.

CITIZENS

In other business the council:

•Approved a request from Constance Salcido to allow overnight camping at Newell Sargent Park for a softball tournament this weekend.

•Tabled action on the golf course management contract until October. The city has contracted for one year with Sagebrush Sports LLC for managing Green Hills Golf Course. Public Works Superintendent Brian Burky recommended a four-year extension, noting that the contract has annual performance standards in place.

Council member Mandy Horath said since it was regarding a contract she preferred to have the discussion in closed/executive session. The council went into executive session for potential litigation and the golf course contract. The council then tabled action on the golf contract.

Aside from incumbents no other mayor or council candidates were in attendance.

The next regular meeting will be Oct. 6.