Clovis approves preliminary budget

CLOVIS — In a brief special meeting Tuesday, the Clovis city commission approved a preliminary 2020-21 budget to meet a state deadline before Friday.

The meeting, primarily scheduled to approve the preliminary budget, went just about 12 minutes from opening to closing gavel.

In light of uncertainties created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the state Department of Finance and Administration has allowed municipalities to submit their 2019-20 final budget as a preliminary budget. City Finance Director LeighAnn Melancon said she and City Manager Justin Howalt took that option, and presented to commissioners a $56.4 million budget that reflected a raise given to city employees in August and various grants the city has received.

Melancon said the numbers would change in the final budget in July as she and Howalt gain more information, and would bring those to the commission.

District 3 Commissioner Helen Casaus asked a question to clarify employee raises, to which Melancon responded she was referring to raises approved last August and that the budget on the table included no employee raises. Following that answer, commissioners moved on to an 8-0 vote.

In other business Tuesday, commissioners unanimously approved an amendment to an agreement with the state on Clovis Area Transit System funding. The amendment allows the city to take advantage of CARES Act funding to cover the city’s $589,923 operation and administrative costs on CATS from March to September.

After Garry Johnson of CATS said local match was required, Mayor Pro Tem Chris Bryant moved for approval.

The next meeting is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. Thursday.