City Government Disperses $8.5 Million Excess Funds

At the start of Tuesday night's city council public hearing, Councilman Keith Goodenough reminded the audience that every four years, at the end of the optional penny tax cycle, there's potential for excess funds.

About $7.3 million in leftover optional one cent #13 monies were allocated Tuesday night. The two largest allocations were; $2.5 million to Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies and $1 million to the Boy's and Girl's Club's proposed Boxing and Financial Literacy Program.

One citizen speaking in opposition to the Boy's and Girl's Club project suggested there was insufficient notice of the meeting.

"Just FYI, the only way I even found out about this is because someone I know happened to read the council minutes in the paper on Sunday and happened to call me. So, I don't know that the word is really out there to the public."

Mayor, Kenyne Schlager, says keeping the public informed is a consistent challenge.

City Manager, John Patterson pointed out that council, next week, plans to discuss expanding cable channel three to broadcast more governmental meetings like the public hearing Tuesday.

Also included in the excess fund allocations was $3.8-million designated for the city's Perpetual Care Fund- a trust maintained by the city for building maintenance - just over $100,000 for a Platte River Parkway underpass project, plus expenditures for a variety of city needs. The total outlay included another $1.8 million in rollover General Fund dollars.