City cuts EDC from budget
By Suzanne Werre
Editor
When less money is coming into the city’s coffers, something has to go.
At this past week’s regular city commission meeting on Wednesday, Underwood city commissioners decided it was the Underwood Area Economic Development Corporation (EDC) would take the first hit.
The commissioners opted to not approve the EDC’s budget request of $65,000 for the upcoming year, which includes not approving the EDC’s budget request to pay for an EDC director, a position that is currently held by Wendy Spencer.
Spencer had been paid $30,000 a year for the two-day-per-week position, plus mileage in the amount of $6000. She will continue to hold the EDC director job until the end of January.
The decline of revenue coming into the city’s coffers, particularly the decline in city sales tax monies, was the primary reason given for not approving the EDC budget.
“Basically because of our financial state -- coal severance is way down, and sales and use is way down because of online shopping,” said commission president Leon Weisenburger.
