Westlake: Finances Improved

The City of Westlake is in a better financial position than a couple of years ago, but things could still be better.

According to Mayor Bob Hardey two years ago the city was a month away from bankruptcy, but better coordination and communication between departments as well as budget tightening has helped the situation and allowed the city to also reduce its debt loading.

Plus the city raised its utility rates by 50% and got property tax increases for the police and fire departments. Today the city is in a ‘cash-in, cash-out’ situation, or what most people call living paycheck to paycheck which is still an improvement over going bankrupt.