Seneca Council approves 1st Reading of Budget with Questions

The Seneca City Council unanimously approved first reading of the Fiscal Year 2018-19 Budget last night; however, there are still several questions about the budget as the city awaits census data from the state that will determine the value of a mill. In his first two weeks on the job, new Seneca City Administrator Scott Moulder has been hard at work budgeting for next year. “I think the process so far is getting off on the right start. Coming into it, I’m a financial type of guy and a reports type of guy, so I would like to start presenting the budget in a manner that I feel is little more clear, accountable, transparent and easier to read frankly. But I thought it went well, I think the council and the mayor were receptive to it. Obviously, I’ve been here two weeks so there is a lot of numbers in there that I still have to learn and I’m looking forward to it. Next year, I’m hoping the process will be a little different, again, once I’ve had a year’s worth of time to get in and put my stamp on it.” As it stands now the proposed fiscal year budget is more than $10.6 million and includes a 2% millage increase. Moulder told the council that this is merely a draft of the budget and that they should anticipate the numbers will change a little once more information is received from the state. The Seneca City Council has scheduled a public hearing on the budget for 6pm on June 19.