The city of Morganton’s annual financial report was presented Monday night, and with it, some good news.
Jessie Parris, director of the city’s finance department, said each of the city’s fund balances grew this year despite the economic difficulties caused by the pandemic.
“The way that has happened, the city staff, the city council, made some hard decisions,” Parris said.
Some of the decisions included forgoing large item purchases when possible, delaying or revising capital improvement projects, lapsing the city’s cleaning service for a year and having either reduced or furloughed staff at CoMMA and the Community House, Parris said.
But still, the last year wasn’t a slow one for the city.
The city received about $470,000 in CARES Act funds, $2.4 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds and other COVID-19-related funds that were distributed through the city’s community development block grant program to help local nonprofits.
The city also was able to delay rate increases for water and wastewater, and offer a decrease on electric rates, Parris said.
Renovations on the historic courthouse square and the downtown greenway connector are near completion, two internet bandwidth upgrades have been completed and the Catawba River Soccer Complex expansion was completed, Parris said. There also have been numerous park improvements, heavy equipment purchases and street repairs.
