Judy Andrews of the mayor's office said cutting $500,000 in general expenses would not solve the city's wastewater issues.
Andrews said the city cannot move money from the general fund to the Waterworks or Wastewater departments, which are both audited separately from the city.
Blytheville City Councilwoman Carol White has proposed cutting $500,000 in the 2010 budget instead of raising wastewater rates to pay for the $2.5 million of sewer work being mandated by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality.
"Wastewater and Waterworks monies are restricted monies," Andrews said. "You can't take money from the general fund and put it into Wastewater or Waterworks. You can't take money from Waterworks and put it in Wastewater."
Andrews acknowledged it may be confusing that the Waterworks and Wastewater budgets are in the middle of the city of Blytheville's regular budget.
But she said those departments' monies "are strictly regulated."
Their audits are done by private companies, separately from the city's audit, she noted.
"You can't take money from the general fund and put it into Wastewater," Andrews said. "Wastewater would have to find $500,000 in their own budget. You can cut $500,000 all you want from anything else. It's not going to help wastewater ... we cannot touch that money."
She said when money is collected from the water company, the fees are separated into specific funds. The mosquito spray and sanitation money goes into the general fund, while water-related money goes into the water fund and wastewater fees go into the wastewater fund.
There will be an Airport and Utilities meeting at 3 p.m. Wednesday, followed by a public forum at 5 p.m. that day in the Municipal Courtroom to discuss the wastewater issues.
mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com