As the City of Cadiz develops its 2026-27 fiscal year budget, the finance committee met for over an hour Tuesday night to review the proposal and identify recent cost savings.
During the meeting, City Administrative Officer Jack Lingenfelter highlighted several recent budget reductions, noting that most of the savings were identified by Finance Director Amber Syester.
City officials recently eliminated an unnecessary $240 monthly internet expense at the Renaissance Center. A review of city records determined the service had been inactive for 11 months, resulting in $2,640 in unnecessary costs before the cancellation.
The city also canceled service for seven Verizon Wireless hotspots, saving $280 per month. Lingenfelter noted the devices had previously been “lost in bureaucracy,” resulting in continued payments for equipment that was not in use.
Lingenfelter stated the city is exploring ways to utilize existing mobile hotspots to provide internet access at the Renaissance Center on an as-needed basis for renters.
He added that the city recently terminated a contract with Unifirst for First Aid Service, which was costing $3,000 a year. That will now be managed in-house.
Additionally, Ligenfelter shared that LeadsOnline, an underutilized service by the Cadiz Police Department, was canceled, saving another $1,899 a year.
Further cost-reduction measures are being considered for telecommunications at both the city hall and the police department. Officials are reviewing these accounts as current monthly expenditures for the two departments surpass $1,400.
Additionally, Lingenfelter confirmed that the state of Kentucky has declined to renew its right-of-way mowing contract for the 2026-27 fiscal year, citing a disagreement over the city’s proposed rate increase. Lingenfelter noted that the city had been losing money on the contract in recent years and pointed out that the state has similarly opted not to renew contracts with several neighboring communities.
