As the city waits for Lafayette Gatling to sign the contract that will allow him and partners to buy the Roanoke Rapids Theatre, council set its budget calendar for the upcoming fiscal year tonight.
It is a budget calendar that eyes adoption by June 12, which is more than two weeks ahead of a normal schedule.
“We are largely well under way on the budget process,” Interim City Manager Ed Wyatt told council at its meeting.
Wyatt said emphasis will be placed on resources and revenues. He said American La France has agreed to give the city 30 more days on a decision to buy a new ladder truck as it waits for Gatling to sign the papers.
The city has enacted a freeze on hiring and will exam each and every job, the exception being critical positions, he said.
“We're trying our best to achieve the greatest economy and efficiency in our operations,” Wyatt said. “We've reviewed all our telephones and have already discovered some can be eliminated.”
The city has met with Roanoke Electric officials to have energy efficiency studies done and the city is ordering common supplies rather than having individual departments order them. The city has found a company that delivers these supplies which will reduce costs, Wyatt said.
Following the meeting, Wyatt declined comment on the what the outlook for the next fiscal year will be.
The crucial part on what the upcoming fiscal year holds is the completion of the Gatling deal, a $7.1 million cash only offer to buy the theater.
City Attorney Gilbert Chichester said following the meeting Gatling's signature is a matter of him and the people partnering with him to get together. “They're not asking to change any terms.”
Mayor Emery Doughtie said the contract is key to what happens in the next fiscal year. “We're waiting on the contract with GSH. If we get it back in a timely manner, we'll have some room to breathe.”
The deal with Gatling means the difference between having the cash to pay off all but some $12 million in theater debt or having to make cuts or raise taxes to come up with a $1.7 million payment. “If none of that comes through,” Doughtie said, “We're back to dire consequences.”
The budget calendar begins on January 6 and the first public hearing on May 8.
