No swimming in Sparta this summer

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[There'll be less good times in the good old summertime in Sparta this year. The city is facing financial problems requiring some unpopular cuts in services.

Last week, the city council voted against opening the municipal swimming pool. The move will save the city between $40,000 and $50,000, according to Mayor Rob Link.

That's not all. The council also cut funding for the library by $43,000 for fiscal year 2010, in another money-saving effort.

Link noted the library operating expenses for last year were $189,000, with $97,000 coming from property taxes. The library board needs to make cuts and live within their budget, according to Link.

Three full-time employees of the library are currently receiving full benefits.

The pool operated at a loss last year, due in part to opening late after a botched repair job, that left peeling paint and a disintegrating pool floor. The city is suing the contractor and a subcontractor with a court date set for Thursday.

Also to curb the city's money woes, the council will not fill a vacancy in the city clerk's office. Shirley Reimer retired from the position March 1, and the council promoted Deputy City Clerk Angela Peters to replace Reimer. Peters' old position will remain vacant saving the city $50,000 in salary.

The fire department is also facing cuts as two firefighter vacancies will not be filled, saving the city training and equipment costs. Link said the department has sufficient firefighters to meet the needs of the city.

The council also decided that an assistant police chief position will not be refilled. The city is also negotiating with the police department's labor union over proposed cuts, as well.

The city had already made cuts at the Misselhorn Art Gallery and at the Senior Center.

According to City Commissioner Gary Stephens, the city continues to have increased expenses and decreased funds. The city cannot survive like that, he said, and more cuts will still need to be made.

Tax money from the state is down by $190,695, according to Stephens, and sales tax is down $151,768 and infrastructure tax receipts are down $37,492.