Aragon council to make hard financial choices
Financial decisions will top the agenda of a called Aragon council meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 31 in the City’s Municipal Building, located at 2814 Rome Highway.
Hal Kuhn, financial officer, is expected to present options that will help the group make decisions that could help keep Aragon from becoming a village.
Kuhn said he plans to offer options to the group that would include cutting costs such as reducing staff.
“The payroll is one of the largest expenses, about $320,000 annually,” Kuhn said. “I will present information - not advice – to council members.”
He recently informed elected officials that Aragon has bills due by July 31, totaling about $200,000 and no current funding to pay the list.
Meanwhile, Mayor Ken Suffridge said rumors are running like a river.
He emphasized there have been no cuts to the police department contrary to reports that only a part-time chief remains on the job.
“That is not true,” Suffridge said. “I can’t prevent people from talking but it would be nice if they got correct information instead of repeating what they hear around town or read on social media.”
Suffridge said he has an open door policy and is willing to discuss any subject with Aragon citizens.
“We are not hiding anything and it is no secret that a decision must be made,” he said. “My hands are tied . . . I have done everything possible to resolve the situation . . . The only vote I have is when there is a tie and I need to break a deadlock on an issue.”
He compared the current situation in Aragon to a dog on a long leash.
“There is no more length to add to this leash,” he said. “We must deal in facts, not fiction. The problems we face are real, not a figment of my imagination.”
Suffridge reference an overview of the past year he recently presented to council members. He detailed efforts made to continue daily operations and provide expected service to residents. He outlined how a retreat and town hall meeting were held in 2013 to gain support for efforts to keep from closing city hall.
“We have done everything possible,” he said. “We negotiated with government officials, sought expert advice from professionals and created economic development tools to prepare for growth if the economy improves.”