The Lewisburg City Council heard from several residents at their monthly meeting on Tuesday night.

A relatively straightforward agenda was capped by citizen concerns with the current financial state of the city and how the city responds to the issue..

Over several years, the city has exhausted its fund balance, which provides operating capital throughout the year, as well as funds in case of emergency.

In December the city was forced to borrow against future property tax revenues in order to continue operating.

The council has already authorized up to $1 million in tax anticipation notes for this fiscal year, which began July 1, if needed for this year.

The council is examining the possibility of personnel cuts in order to save on expenses and rebuild the city’s fund balance, which by their own guidelines should be 30 percent of the annual budget, or roughly $3.5 million.

The council has not publicly discussed a timetable for rebuilding the fund balance or what amount they would like to return to the fund annually.

Former councilman Robin Minor spoke to the council first, urging fiscal responsibility without a tax increase or the need to layoff employees.

”You don’t spend money you don’t have,” said Minor, noting that, when he served on the council, the city’s reserves were only tapped for emergencies, even with the closures of ICP and Faber at that time.

“I’m concerned with the employees,” said Minor, “but I’m also concerned with the more than 10,000 residents of this town who voted to put you into office.”

“Don’t put it on the taxpayers,” he said.

Toby Adams also spoke opposing any property tax increase, telling the council to balance the budget with the revenue they had.

From past meetings, the council, especially Mayor Jim Bingham and Councilman Jerry Gordon, have made it clear that they do not support a property tax increase to rebuild the city’s reserves.

In 2016, the property tax rate was increased by 45 cents per $100 of assessed value to $1.90 in total.

After the county-wide reappraisal in 2017 the rate fell as property increased in value to the current city rate of $1.69 per $100 of assessed value.

“Everyone here is well concerned about the city’s finances,” said Phillip Baxter.

He noted that layoffs by the city, especially in the fire department, would cost residents and business owners as insurance costs would increase if the quality of the city’s fire coverage rating decreased with fewer personnel.

He suggested that the city could provide better service with its already existing departments, especially in the enforcement of property standards.

He questioned if the city was in a position to continue the Goats, Music, and More Festival while in the current financial situation.

“Before we borrow another million dollars, let’s do away with Goats, Music, and More,” he said.

Baxter also said that he had heard a rumor that the city was discussing possibly selling the current Babe Ruth baseball complex to the Marshall County School Board.

If that happened, he said, the public and youth leagues would loose access to the fields. If the city needed to sell a facility, why not the Cashion Youth Sports Complex and its youth baseball and softball fields, he added.