Yukon officials hire attorney to review financial options
YUKON — While the city of Yukon has not directly accused its former city manager of improper financial actions, city officials continue to state the current financial crisis developed under his tenure and an attorney has been hired to advise the council concerning the issue.
“Until our previous city manager’s resignation in December 2015, the city council received glowing reports on the financial condition of the city,” Mayor John Alberts said about former city manager Grayson Bottom. “However, in November 2015, the council became concerned over the city’s financial conditions and began investigating.”
In a statement read during Tuesday’s city council meeting, Alberts claimed “revenue presented to the city council in the 2015-16 budget was overstated to a level that could not be met. This makes the city’s budgeting problem difficult to resolve.”
Bottom has declined to comment and said he has hired an attorney.
In an email to The Oklahoman, Alberts confirmed the city has hired Oklahoma City attorney Tony Puckett to advise the council on the matter of Bottom’s contract with the city.
When asked directly about the former city manager’s contract and whether he has been paid since his departure, Alberts declined to comment on advice of his attorney.
Last month, the city council announced it had discovered various financial irregularities, including the improper transfer of money between accounts and purchases made without council approval.
Moving forward
Alberts said Crawford and Associates, the accounting firm hired to investigate the city’s current financial situation, is moving forward in its examination and expects to have a final report in “the next few weeks.”
The council gathered in private executive session during Tuesday’s meeting to discuss the current internal investigation.
“Council has continued concerns about past purchasing practices of the city and when the final audit is in, it and all other reports will be turned over to the proper authorities,” Alberts said.
Due to the financial issues facing the city, Alberts has said not enough money exists to cover expenses for the rest of the fiscal year.
Cuts expected
During a planning session before Tuesday’s council meeting, newly hired City Manager Jim Crosby told the council he expects to cut 10 staff positions by Friday.
Crosby has also asked each department to cut its budget by 5 percent.
“We feel next year we will have a balance budget,” Crosby said. “But it’s going to be a lean year.”
Despite the improper money management, Alberts maintained no money was “missing” from the city’s budget.
“The council wants to assure the public that currently there is no evidence of any missing money,” Alberts said in his statement. “We believe money was used from restricted accounts to cover regular city expenses. The bills may not have been paid from the proper accounts, but all payments were made.”