Elberta Finances Bring Angry Voices

There were angry voices Tuesday at a town council meeting in Elberta.
Town officials are trying to deal with money problems.
Elberta is facing a 7% decline in tax revenues, and people who live in the town are making their anger felt on a number of issues.
Revenue for the town is down more than $300,000 in the last 17 months.
Some people are afraid the town could lay off one of Elberta's six police officers, or that the job of the police chief himself could be eliminated.
Others question how Mayor Marvin Williams has hired people in the past, including hiring a work release inmate as a city employee without advertising for the position.
One man stood up at the meeting and said, "He's got a job, he got his life straight. I'm glad, I'm glad for him. But you all should have done it the right way."
As for the money problems, Mayor Williams said layoffs will not be needed at least until the next fiscal year starts in October.
Williams said, "We took ten percent of the regular budget and put that towards a reserve fund, so therefore it gives us a little cushion."
The next town council meeting isn't scheduled until next month, but the issue of saving money will be on the minds of a lot of people in Elberta for now.