Lanett holds special-called meeting on new budget

BY JOHN BRICE
FOR THE LAFAYETTE SUN

LANETT —  The Lanett City Council held a special called meeting Oct. 7 to again consider and approve its fiscal year 2027 budget after concerns were raised about the process used during its Oct. 5 regular meeting.

Local resident Elizabeth Farrar questioned whether the council had complied with state public-access requirements when it approved the budget Oct. 5, saying the public had not been given adequate opportunity to review the proposed spending plan before the vote.

The concerns prompted the council to call a special meeting 48 hours later to discuss and reconsider the budget.

During a work session immediately preceding the special called meeting, Farrar read a statement further explaining her objections.

“I object to proceeding immediately to adopt the fiscal 2027 budget,” Farrar said. “Although the special called work session and the special called council meeting were properly noticed for the purpose of discussing and adopting the municipal budget, the public has been given no meaningful time to inspect the finalized budget before this vote.”

Farrar cited Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, part of the state’s Open Records Act, which provides the public a right to inspect and copy public records, subject to certain exceptions.

She said she had requested access to the draft budget Oct. 5 but was denied access before the council voted.

“On Oct. 5, I explicitly requested access to the draft fiscal year 2027 budget and was denied,” Farrar said. “I was told that the public could only view the budget after council approval, a position repeated by the mayor in both the work session and the council meeting that evening.”

Farrar argued that denying access to the proposed budget before its adoption prevented the public from reviewing the document prior to official action.

“For these reasons, I object and reserve my right to challenge the validity of any vote taken tonight under the Alabama Open Records Act,” she said.

During the special called meeting, District 4 Council Member Charles Bagley read Resolution 10-26-03 adopting the city of Lanett’s budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

The resolution states that the proposed budget had been presented to and reviewed by the mayor and council and includes a 3% cost-of-living pay increase for all city employees.

The resolution further states that the council determined adoption of the budget to be in the best interest of the city and its citizens and that, following adoption, the budget would become part of the city’s records and be available for public inspection and review.

Immediately following the reading of the resolution, the council voted to approve the fiscal year 2027 budget.