The Crestwood Board of Aldermen last week reviewed a draft 2016 budget recommended by the city’s Ways and Means Committee that projected a deficit of more than $1,198,000.

After meeting over two nights last week for more than seven hours, aldermen tentatively agreed to reduce the amount of the projected deficit by roughly $181,000 to about $1,017,000.

The Board of Aldermen will conduct a public hearing on the proposed 2016 budget when it meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24, at the Government Center, 1 Detjen Drive.

The Ways and Means Committee met Oct. 15 and Oct. 16 to review the budget recommended by then-City Administrator Mark Sime, whose resignation was effective Oct. 23. Police Chief Frank Arnoldy since has been named interim city administrator.

The budget recommended by the Ways and Means Committee proposed total revenues of $10,707,316 with projected expenditures of $11,905,411 — a deficit of $1,198,095.

During the work sessions, aldermen tentatively agreed to reduce that deficit to $1,017,038. The 2016 budget now projects total revenues of $10,707,316 with anticipated expenditures of $11,724,354.

The original 2015 budget adopted by the Board of Aldermen last December projected total revenues of $11,808,800 with anticipated expenditures of $12,465,416 — a deficit of $656,616.

For 2016, proposed general fund revenues total $7,714,793 with anticipated expenditures of $8,274,794 — a deficit of $560,001. With an estimated beginning fund balance of $4,663,773, an ending fund balance of $4,103,772 is projected.

Aldermen recently adopted a fund-balance policy mandating the city maintain operating reserves of no less than 45 percent. The proposed 2016 budget would have operating reserves of nearly 48 percent.

The capital improvement fund budget proposed for 2016 anticipates revenues of $1,062,138 with projected expenditures of $1,339,294 — a deficit of $277,156.

With an estimated beginning fund balance of $1,345,296, an ending fund balance of $1,068,140 is projected.

For 2016, proposed park and stormwater fund revenues total $1,792,810 with anticipated expenditures of $1,970,266 — a deficit of $177,456. With an estimated beginning balance of $745,401, an ending fund balance of $567,945 is anticipated.

The sewer lateral fund proposed for 2016 projects total revenues of $137,575 with anticipated expenditures of $140,000 — a deficit of $2,425. With an estimated beginning balance of $186,342, an ending fund balance of $183,917 is projected.

Across all four of the city’s funds, the proposed 2016 budget projects an ending balance of $5,923,774.

After a tour of the Government Center Oct. 29, aldermen voted 6-2 to reduce building and improvement expenditures in the capital improvement fund to $255,000 from $400,000. Ward 1 Alderman Darryl Wallach and Ward 4 Alderman Cindy Minor were opposed to the motion made by Ward 2 Alderman Justin Charboneau and seconded by Ward 3 Alderman Grant Mabie.

The following expenditures are proposed for 2016 at the Government Center:

• $10,000 to enclose the police carport for prisoner security.

• $24,000 to renovate the Fire Department bunkhouse.

• $151,000 for structural repairs and tuckpointing. Aldermen added $110,000 to the original line item for structural repairs.

• $20,000 for window replacement on the Fire Department wing.

• $10,000 for window replacement on the Police Department wing.

• $30,000 to paint the Fire Department engine room.

• $10,000 to replace heaters in the Fire Department engine room.