DAPHNE, Ala.—The City Council had voted to send council members John Lake and Derek Boulware to represent the city at the National League of Cities meeting, but the council members did not have enough funds in their accounts to pay for the expenses.

During the April Finance Committee meeting, council member Bailey Yelding offered to transfer $600 from the training fund for his district to Lake’s district. At a council meeting, it was suggested that the funds be transferred from council member Ron Scott’s budget as well into Lake’s and Boulware’s accounts.

The transfer of funds reportedly was necessary to balance the accounts of District 3 and District 6.

Council member August Palumbo said the necessity for such a transfer was uncalled for.

“In the budget cutting the past couple of years, I think this is the result of not even enough money to send one council member to the National League of Cities. I think in our zeal to make sure that the council budget is cut along with everything else, you do reach a point of diminishing returns … I think we need to consider that in the upcoming budget. It is kind of ridiculous to have to transfer money to send one councilman to the conference,” Palumbo said.

Yelding agreed.

“I made the same pitch when we were trying to cut the budget. I knew then we wouldn’t have enough to go to these conferences. Maybe we all see that now,” he said.

The city has a return on investment by sending a representative to the meeting since the representative networks with state and federal representatives, Palumbo said.