NATCHEZ — With budget season just around the corner, the Natchez Board of Aldermen took a preliminary glance at the city’s financial standing at a work session Monday.

City Clerk Donnie Holloway handed out a cash balance report detailing what monies the city had in the bank.

“We’re going to be a little tight for money,” Holloway said. “The sales taxes are a little off from last year, probably because of Katrina (helping last year). But we’re above the 2005-2006 numbers.”

Although the city has $3,983,988.95, most of the money is dedicated to certain projects.

However, the city has nearly $30,000 in funds that might be used for other purposes, Holloway said.

“So, we ain’t as broke as we thought,” Alderman James “Ricky” Gray said.

Most department budgets have already been submitted, Holloway said. He said he hopes to have all department budgets received and compiled Friday.

Next week, the board plans to meet with each city department to discuss individual department budgets, Mayor Phillip West said.

The board plans to meet with department heads at 4:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.

The board went into executive session to discuss personnel regarding vacancies on several city boards, including the school board, the civil service commission and economic development authority, among others.

The board interviewed potential school board candidates in an executive work session Aug. 2.

A regular board of aldermen meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. today.