Lawrenceburg $5.3 Million Additional Appropriation Approval Fails

This Additional Appropriation packet would need to be passed by December 14 to be able to receive funds.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - With the end of the year quickly approaching, the City of Lawrenceburg held a public hearing at last night's City Council Meeting to approve the Additional Appropriations needed to cover expenditures that were not budgeted for. 

Paul Seymour Jr. opened the discussion by asking the question of how they can appropriate $5.3 million for "vague" classifications. He claimed that he wanted to dive into each appropriation so that he can confidently tell the people of Lawrenceburg why the council needs this much money at the end of the year. 

Richard Richardson said that requesting Additional Appropriations in December is not uncommon.

"Typically, you guys do Additional Appropriations in June and then in December. I know we did it last year that way, we've done it this year this way. And I believe the previous two years when I was not involved in any of this, it was done that way too," Richardson explains.

Brittany Doller, Clerk-Treasure Accountant, then broke down each individual fun. The full list of funds can be found here. 

After hearing the breakdown, Seymour confirmed that he would be fine with approving the appropriations at the next meeting as long as he can see an itemized list from the LMU and Redevelopment.  

Richardson explained that this would need to be approved tonight so that they could reach the deadline of December 14, which is before the next council meeting on December 16.

Seymour was not hesitant to bring up the unpaid $1 million utility pole on Fourth and Front Street. 

"I know it might be beating a dead horse, but if we can appropriate this much money, I don't know why we can't take care of this pole," he said.

Tony Abbott responded to this by saying, "You have to have proof of the money that went out. So far, we haven't got that proof. We've asked for that proof and is not there."

City Attorney, Del Weldon, spoke to the issue saying, "This is the second time you are holding something else up to try to get us to pay a bill that's illegal."  

Mayor Kelly Mollaun was clear that this could not be approved if there was not a unanimous vote. 

"We are going to take a vote on it tonight, we will see how the vote goes. If we have to have another meeting to get it approved, and in the meantime, we can get it broken down," explained Mollaun.  

Tony Abbott motioned to pass the Additional Appropriation Packet (18-2019), but the motion died when it did not receive a second by a council member. 

The meeting ended with a statement from Abbott. "We will never get another grant. Lawrenceburg will never get another grant. We fought so hard to get those two grants. Fought hard. First time we've gotten them in years, and you guys [councilmen] are blowing it out of the water. It's ridiculous." 

At this time, another meeting has not been scheduled. 

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Public Hearing for Additional Appropriations stars at 48:28.