Ashville back in black

Published 4:15 am Monday, April 25, 2011

After three years of financial losses, the city of Ashville is looking forward to being in the black this year.

During their regular meeting Monday, the Ashville City Council reviewed the city’s finances for the first half of the fiscal year.

“During the past three years, we had lost $75,000 or more each year. We were happy to see at this point, we’re actually about $70,000 ahead,” Mayor Robert McKay said.

Taking into account that the bulk of the city’s revenue comes in at the beginning of the year, he expects that the city should be $30,000 to $40,000 ahead by the end of the fiscal year.

It’s good news for the city, which has been tightening its belt as far as pay increases and expenditures for the last three years to stay afloat. Last year, the city’s finances were propped up by revenues from the water department.

McKay also noted that sales tax revenues are up so far this year, and the city is staying well within their budget.

“The census shows us losing a few people, but in a sense, that’s OK, because we’ve still got that small-town atmosphere, and we’re making ends meet. We still have a full time fire and medic department, we’ve got a full time police department and we’re doing quite well. We welcome growth, but we’ll take it as it comes,” McKay said. “In this economic time, we’re really overjoyed to see we’re doing as well as we are.”

Because of the city’s good financial fortune this year, the city is using some of the money they’re ahead to buy major pieces of playground equipment for the splash pad and for the walking track.

“We’re doing a little something for the kids and the public with the money,” McKay said.