CRESTVIEW — The Crestview City Council came close Monday night to resorting to the rollback millage rate when the body deadlocked 2-2 on passing the previously approved 6.9466 millage.
But after discussion, both the millage and the proposed 2015-16 city budget passed 3-1, with Councilman JB Whitten voting against both resolutions.
Whitten and Councilman Joe Blocker voted against the resolution authorizing the increased millage following several residents' opposition to the rate.
"I feel there are some things in the budget we can reduce," resident Wendell Beattie said.
Following the deadlock, City Clerk Betsy Roy said unless the millage was adopted, the city would default to the 5.8743 rollback millage, which would lop more than $1 off the budget.
"I'm astounded at this vote," Councilman Bill Cox said. "Right here and now this puts the city in turmoil and it shouldn't be that way. This was the second vote to move this forward. One councilman has changed his vote from last time. I have no reason why."
Blocker, who changed to a "nay" vote from last week's first hearing on the millage, asked city attorney Ben Holley for his advice.
"You're going to have to pass a millage rate and a balanced budget," Holley said. "All of this has to be done by Oct. 1."
BUDGET ADJUSTMENT
Roy told the councilmen that once passed, they can adjust the budget more to their satisfaction if they wish.
Asked by Council President Shannon Hayes, who favored the millage and budget, what he suggests doing, Blocker shifted his stance.
"All we can do to stay out of trouble with the state and pass this millage rate, then do everything possible to lower the budget a million dollars," Blocker replied.
Blocker then moved to rescind the first vote, which passed 3-1, with Whitten voting nay. Cox moved to pass the millage again, which then passed 3-1, with Whitten again voting against it.
Discussion then turned to the proposed $29,593,225 budget. Resident Thomas Simms spoke against it, singling out expenditures such as $200,000 earmarked for future fire engine purchases as a "slush fund for the fire department," and questioning a 5 percent city worker pay raise.
Simms also dismissed a new computer system to replace the police department's failing system as "spending a million dollars on a data base that wouldn't even be talked about if it wasn't for the election," though the system actually will cost $775,856.
After discussion, the budget passed 3-1, with Whitten again voting nay.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview millage, budget barely pass City Council