Originally posted by The Piedmont Chronicles June 30, 2021

http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/2021/06/delving-into-numbers-city-of-covingtons.html?fbclid=IwAR23TF2VENMbl73dVAeuyzugiIPVMzuSJ_nGVGL5iVW6MoZF2Wxfa0Lsef0

The City of Covington will be seeing the largest budget increase in its 199-yr history as the city council recently approved the FY 2021-22 budget in the amount of $142 million. 

This represents a $14 million increase over the previous year & corresponds to an 11% increase in the size & scope of government here in the home city.

Without getting into the irony of how many in the We Took Back Our City crowd – the folks that ensured a major change in the makeup our city government in the most recent municipal elections – must be feeling right now, the fact remains that our city government seems to be very financially irresponsible right now & that affects all of the approx 14,000 residents that call this city home.

So, let’s get into some specifics. $14 million. That’s a lot of dough. Where did these increases come from?

• In terms of percentage growth, the gold medal is awarded to “Community Development” which saw its budget increase 44% to approx $1.3 million
• The Engineering Department saw a 16% increase
• Planning & Zoning jumped to approx $1.34 million, a 15% increase
• Good ole HR, Human Resources, jumped 20% & is right at a cool million for the upcoming year, just edged out by…
• E911 which is seeing its budget push up to almost $4.4 million representing a 21% increase
• Upcoming capital projects & major purchases also played a major role as just over $700K was budgeted for new computers w/ another $1.45 million for vehicles

You know it’s bad when the Newton Co. BOC looks good in comparison.

Covington, Covington…

– MBM