The Town of Hennessey will start the 2025-26 fiscal year July 1 with an estimated $7.595 million in resources available and total fund/departmental appropriations of $3.78 million.

The town’s joint appropriations with the Hennessey Utilities Authority shows a grand total of appropriations by departments at $4.247 million.

The town started the 2024-25 fiscal year on July 1, 2024, with an estimated combined budget of $8.541 million. That had included $4.117 million in anticipated income and $4.331 million in expected carryover.

The town is down about $200,000 in estimated income for the current year, Town Administrator Tiffany Rowen told the board during its Thursday, June 12, meeting.

She blamed that on staffing shortages in the police department for about six months last year.

Restricted Sales Tax Money Grows

Rowen noted on the budget document that the town’s fund balance in the restricted sales tax fund went from $583,300 to $889,500 by moving these items into that account: Emergency Management Services ($223,000), police ($35,000) and fire ($48,000) fees into that account.

Usual restricted taxes in that account are swimming pool ($200,500); general government, ($85,000); Streets ($200,000); Tourism/ Advertising ($62,800), and Parks ($35,000).

She said there is also a plan to set aside money for a ladder truck through accounting adjustments, rather than requiring a separate fund.

Employees Work for Both Town and Utilities

Rowen said they will start relocating Utilities Authority funds July 1 because most employees have dual roles in working for the town and utilities authority.

Town Hall staff handle billing and post payments each month for the town and the authority, she said.

Also, utility workers could be mowing at the cemetery one day, then working at the water plant the next.

Those personnel office costs, including the town administrator’s salary, will be split 50/50 between the general fund and the authority effective July 1.

All of Rowan’s salary is currently being paid by the authority.

Also, the Utilities Authority will be contributing 60% for outside workers and 40% will come from the general fund.

This reduces general fund spending, as outside workers (e.g., mowing, water) perform duties for both.

Accountant Rehired

Trustees rehired Crawford and Associates, Oklahoma City, to provide services for the 2025-26 year including annual financial statements, general accounting and advisory assistance, etc.

The firm’s services are based on hourly rates: President, $275; shareholders, $190; senior managers, $170; managers, $150; senior professional staff, $130; professional staff, $90, and clerical staff, $60.

That company has been the town’s accounting firm since 1982.

Consolidation of Agenda Items

Trustee Bert Gritz suggested, and trustees approved 3-0, reorganizing the board agenda, with the following changes and having their attorney draft a resolution with these changes:

• Persons authorized to place items on the agenda – Add town administrator to the list that includes all five trustees.

• Citizen comments – Include only at the beginning of each meeting instead of at the start and end of each meeting.

• Adhoc committee reports – Delete item and include those reports in citizen comments.

• “Council Person” comments – Change to “Comments from board members, or Comments from trustees,” because they are not a “Council.”

At the Meeting

Trustees attending were Mayor Randy Bohnstedt, Vice Mayor John Peach, and Gritz. Absent were Trustees Harold Shaw and David Jones and Town Attorney Jared Harrison (although Harrison did call in and gave the board information about appointing a town clerk).

Also present was Town Treasurer Kelley Vaverka.

Staff at the meeting table were Rowen, Public Works Director Alyssa Kubat and then-Acting Deputy Town Clerk Katie Walters.

In the audience were Police Chief Christian Solis, Fire Chief Brandon Scott and Town Hall Office Manager Shelley Burch, who was appointed as town clerk during the meeting.

There were no visitors in the audience.