A council member's push to reverse course and open the Aumiller Park Pool this summer failed after the Bucyrus auditor outlined her concerns about the city's financial future.

During Thursday's regular committee meetings, Kevin Myers, R-at large, asked fellow members of Bucyrus City Council's finance committee to consider requesting legislation to move forward with opening the pool. Funding for its operation was left out of the city's 2023 budget in an effort to reduce expenses in the face of rising costs and falling income.

Because of the budget crunch, council members voted earlier this year to put a 0.25%, five-year additional income tax for safety forces on the May 2 ballot.

Myers had suggested using American Rescue Plan Act money, the city's Fund 271, to go ahead and open the pool this year.

Interim city auditor outlines her concerns

After he raised the issue during Thursday's meeting, Kali Lewis, the interim city auditor, read a prepared statement outlining her reasons for recommending against the move.

Lewis outlined how the city's spending has increased in recent years, particularly in paying police and fire personnel. Pool spending went up by 13% last year and this year stands to increase another 24%. Last year, the city spent more than it brought in, putting it in the range of cautionary outlook, according to the state auditor's office.

"As it stands, we do not have enough money in the fire salary account line to pay the department for the full year of their...

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