Valley Grande’s yearly audit dominated most of its 32-minute City Council meeting on Monday night at City Hall.

The 15-year-old city has a strong financial backbone, according to Chris Neuenschwander of Jackson-Thornton accounting firm based out of Montgomery.

In Neuenschwander’s report, Valley Grande with an unrestricted net position of $747,417 for a year. Because the city spends $702,684 annually, it could survive over a year without making a profit.

“Because we’re still a young city, we’re in a good position,” Valley Grande Mayor Matt Dobbs said. “We want to make sure we’re providing good services for the city. Our greatest expenditure is public safety.”

Neuenschwander is impressed with Valley Grande’s financial portfolio. The audit ended Sept. 30 when the fiscal year concluded.

“For a small city, Valley Grande does a great job with how they spend money,” Neuenschwander said. “They have a lot of good programs and not burdened by aged systems in older cities. Matt’s in his second term as Mayor and does a great job. He and the city council work well together.”

Dobbs agrees, crediting the city council for the town’s success.

Public Safety director Boyd Pugh, building inspector Sam Smitherman, Zoning, annexation and sewer system director Tim White, Beautification and education officer Ronald Sawyer, Parks and Recreation officer Tammy Troha and Building and community development officer Jimmy Johnson all make up the city council in Valley Grande.

“We get along very well,” Dobbs said. “There are times we have some bumps in the road. It’s taken years to get the city balanced.”

The other topic discussed was having pageant queens greet city residents at its annual Fourth of July fireworks celebration at Valley Grande City Park on Independence Day, but nothing got resolved. The fireworks display will start at 9 p.m. on July 4. The new 100.9 ALEX-FM WALX will broadcast the event.

The city council’s next meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on June 18 at Valley Grande City Hall.