Clarification: An article in this week's Herald, Jan. 16, 2012, stated that the City of Centre received a clean audit report for 2012-2013. The audit was for 2011-2012, as reflected in the article below. The Herald is glad to set the record straight.

The City of Centre received another clean audit report for Fiscal Year 2011-2012. Auditor Forrest Frost reviewed the audit with Mayor Tony Wilkie and council members during the Tuesday, Jan. 8 meeting.

“It is a pleasure to work with you again this year,” said Frost.

“I know it has been tough, finances have been tough, but I think the city does a marvelous job of controlling their budget. That is why you don’t have a lot of debt you have to worry about paying back.”

According to the audit report, Frost said, the city had $3,067,763 in revenues as compared to $3,177,500.

“Revenues have gone down substantially,” said Frost. “Expenditures were $2,947,873 and for the prior year that numbers was $3,177,500. You actually transferred money and were in the hole $100,000 from the prior year. There was $86,610 that you actually got back.”

“I wanted to give management time to review comments,” said Frost. “The staff you have in the office does a great job. You are lucky have them to do all the work they do.”

“Again, I want to commend you on the way you control expenditures, and sticking to your budget,” said Frost. “I think it is foratunate you didn’t inherit a lot of debt down the road and you didn’t create a lot of debt.”

The council agreed to pay Frost $14,900 for his services on the audit report.

In other good financial news, Mayor Tony Wilkie shared that the city’s health insurance rates are actually going down for the upcoming year. The city’s carrier is Blue Cross-Blue Shield for both health and dental insurance.

“This for me is unprecedented,” said Wilkie. “We’ve actually got a reduction in health care rates for the city. The individual plan has been lowered by $25 and the family plan by $45. If there is a win-win situation for the city and its employees, I think that is it.”

Finances, however, continue to be tight as noted by Mayor Wilkie earlier in the meeting.

“That is probably the lowest in the general fund that I have seen in eight years, $41,924.44,” said Wilkie. “The bills you have before you total $36,383.58 and one in the recreation fund for $144.67.”

Council Member Glenn Chandler asked the council to consider purchased new tires for the street and sanitation department, which would include a total of 10 tires at about $430 each.

The council voted to send a letter of condolence to the family of Richard Priebe, a former city police officer, who passed away recently.

On behalf of the Council, Council Member Bess Yarbrough welcomed visitors to the meeting.

“I appreciate your interest in city government and wish everyone a happy new year,” said Yarbrough.