City is ‘hawkish’ about finances

The City of Clayton recently received an “unmodified audit opinion” on its 2013/2014 financial statements. In other words, after examining our financial records and our operating procedures, our external auditors determined that our financial statements accurately reflect the financial status and condition of the city.
We ended the fiscal year on June 30, 2014, a little better off than we had budgeted. Our 2013/2014 budget included the carryover of some surplus funds from previous years.
A portion of these surplus funds was used to replenish our capital replacement fund, which is used to replace our police vehicles and maintenance vehicles and equipment. We also used some of the funds to replenish our self-insurance fund.
During the fiscal year we re-negotiated the compensation agreements with all of our employees. After several years of reducing pay or holding pay the same we finally felt that we could begin restoring some of the pay that was taken away in the past.
Our city staff is hawkish with our finances. This attitude and conservative approach to running the city has resulted in our ability to weather the past several years much better than most cities in our state.
This is my last column as mayor of the City of Clayton and as a city council member. I have enjoyed the past eight years. I wish to thank the residents of Clayton for this opportunity to serve the city. Clayton is truly a great place to live.