Elberta budget woes hit home

ELBERTA, Ala. (WALA) - Elberta is a small town with what some see as a big problem on the horizon. A budget shortfall has some scared that job cuts may be on the way.

The town relies on sales tax revenue to pay for its operations, but lately those revenues have been down. Elberta Mayor Marvin Williams said the citizens of the town are a big part of the answer to the problem.

“If I had to say a solution for the problem, is that I’d tell everyone that lives in Elberta, to please buy in Elberta. Buy your gas in Elberta. Buy your groceries and stuff in Elberta,” Williams said.

Part of the problem is the loss of Wolf Bay Lodge when it burned down over a year ago. It accounted for about $100,000 in sales tax revenue each year. For a town with a budget of just over a million dollars, that’s a pretty big hit. But, that's not the only reason.

Teresia Murphy runs a local thrift store and has seen the effect of a poor economy.

“In the last six months, I’ve seen less in sales, but I try to budget things so that people can afford it, the ones that’s lost their jobs and are on unemployment,” she said.

The town’s total budget shortfall is around $300,000. Elberta has enough saved in the bank to cover the difference, but some city leaders feel that job cuts might be a better solution. Because they have the largest budget, the Public Safety Department may be the first to fall under the ax.

Right now, the town of Elberta has six police officers to protect its 1,200 citizens. Mayor Williams says the last thing he anticipates is to have to let one of those officers go.

“My recommendation is that no one loses a job. We will make it by the end of the year and we will have money in the bank at the end of the year, because our shortfall is not that great,” Williams said.

People in Elberta just hope the worst is over. A budget workshop will be held just before the next town hall meeting, which is scheduled for Tuesday, March 16. The town hall meeting is at 6:30 p.m. and Mayor Williams hopes to see a big turnout.