Ironton City council’s Finance Committee continued to hash out the city’s temporary budget for 2002 at last night’s meeting, but has yet to reach a decision on how to spend the city’s money.

Wednesday, December 12, 2001

Ironton City council’s Finance Committee continued to hash out the city’s temporary budget for 2002 at last night’s meeting, but has yet to reach a decision on how to spend the city’s money.

Mayor Bob Cleary told councilmen he has spent a few days "hammering out" his version of the city’s budget, but wasn’t finished. He told council that he would probably have a his version completed by the next meeting.

The date for the next finance committee meeting has yet to be set. So far, councilmen are working on their own version of the city’s budget, with nothing set in stone.

The clock is winding down for council. By law, the city must have a temporary budget in place by the year’s end or the city shuts down.

The committee will soon make a recommendation to council setting the city’s bid limit at $5,000 instead of the current $10,000 mark. The committee has also recommended that the city’s administration report to the finance committee any purchase above $1,000.

Councilmen went into executive session shortly after the meeting was called to order. Councilmen stayed behind closed doors for about an hour, then resumed the meeting in order to adjourn.

Council will meet in regular session tomorrow at the city center.