Blackfoot places budget freeze on city departments

The city of Blackfoot is currently on a budget freeze after an audit found the city’s general fund has seen a decrease over the last several years.

Cities are required to do an audit every year. This year’s Blackfoot audit revealed that while there are no material deficiencies and they finished with a positive cash balance, the general fund is suffering.

Blackfoot’s general fund consists of administrative costs, police, fire, and ambulance services. Typically, the city has had no problem carrying over money each year; however, this year is different.

“If you go back about six or seven maybe eight years, there was plenty of money to carry over from year to year, so there wasn’t a problem,” said Blackfoot Mayor Marc Carroll. “This year; however, we’ve kind of run into a breaker wall and we’re not going to have the carry over next year.”

Another section of the general fund? Parks and recreation. This is the area causing the most concern. Many parks and rec services cost the city money while not bringing in much revenue.

“The swimming pool carries a budget of a little over $400,000,” Mayor Carroll said. “We only bring in $158,000 a year in revenue. And that’s kind of an average number, but the patronage to the pool has been on a down trend for the last year or so.”

Mayor Carroll decided the best option is a budget freeze until they can figure out where they are losing money.

“The department managers have been directed that they continue on with their normal day to day operation, but any spending of a discretionary nature, I want them to talk to me or our city treasurer,” he said.

Mayor Carroll will present recommendations to get the city back on track at the next city council meeting Tuesday, April 3rd.