Kim Hayes will mark her first anniversary as Lake Butler City Manager on January 17. She said the last year has been the most challenging of her career.
In addition to the municipality’s financial crisis caused by the previous administration, she has restructured the city’s workforce.
“I’ve had to let some people go and bring some people in,” she said. “But with that, the team is better, we’re stronger, our finances are better, and we’re going to move forward, and we’re going to keep doing better.”
Hayes said that as she looks forward to 2025, the city’s wastewater plant and ground storage tank for water will be two of Lake Butler’s most important projects.
In addition, Hayes plans on applying for a state parks grant to repair the city’s splash park within Lake Side Park. She also aims to improve the city’s boat ramp at Butler Lake with an already approved grant of $100,000.
Hayes is also shooting for a community development block grant that she plans to use for Lake Side Park improvements: upgrading the lighting around the park and building a dock near the boat ramp.
The city manager has another project that has been grant-approved but not yet funded. That project involves constructing a sidewalk around Union County High School and Lake Butler Middle School.
However, her main focus in 2025 will continue to be the city’s budget.
In August, the city’s independent auditor, James Moore and Company, noted that the municipality was still recovering from the previous city manager’s misspending and that Lake Butler’s financial condition was not positive.
At the end of the last fiscal year, the city’s general fund was at a three-year low, and the community redevelopment agency had a deficit of $9,815.
The CPA firm added that Lake Butler’s financial condition continues deteriorating, and the city could face an emergency financial situation.
In a January interview with the Times, Hayes said she did not realize how bad Lake Butler’s financial situation was until she settled into the job.
“I was shocked,” she said. “It’s going to take years to rebuild, and that’s what we’re doing. It’s a slow process, but we’re getting there.”
She added that she believes it will take three years of belt-tightening before she and other city leaders can breathe easier.
Hayes said nothing at City Hall gets ordered or purchased without her personal approval.
“My nose is in everything,” she said. “I’m just running it that tight. Nothing gets ordered unless it goes through me, and I approve or disapprove.”
The city manager described Lake Butler’s financial condition as out of critical care, as it was when she arrived last year.
“Now, we’re in rehab,” she added.
