Financial problems were the main topic at the Cumberland City Council meeting Tuesday.

Council member Jerry Gilliam began the meeting by asking about two $2,000 reimbursements listed in the financial statement. Gilliam wanted to know if the $4,000 was gas for vehicles in the city.

Mayor Loretta Cornett said she was unsure and she would have to check into what exactly the money was used for.

Council woman Yvonne Gilliam said it looked liked in January the city paid $10,000 for gas and then another $4,000.

“We are going to have to find out tonight where this gas is going. We will not leave here tonight until we find out,” said Yvonne Gilliam.

Council member Carl Hatfield wanted to know if the council could look at copies of the gas receipts the city had.

“There is something drastically wrong,” Hatfield said.

Cornett said all of the harsh weather could have been the cause of the gas problems.

“Is there any way we can see documented evidence of this?” Hatfield asked Cornett.

Later in the meeting, Hatfield questioned a $1,200 payment on the financial report regarding the purchasing of new tires for the city’s police cars.

“Those cars shouldn’t have that many miles on them, chief, not in nine months,” said Hatfield. “I question the need for tires on those new cars in that manner.”

Police Chief Fred Davidson said the tires were wore out.

Hatfield questioned Davidson on how the tires could be worn out, and how many miles were on those cars.

Davidson responded saying the city’s new police cars have 20,000 miles on them.

“In nine months? In the total of the city of Cumberland? That’s ridiculous, excuse me chief,” Hatfield said.

Council member Eugene Stagnolia said spending that amount of money the council had to approve the spending because the city doesn’t have it in its budget, and would have to find it somewhere.

Hatfield said the council needs to look at putting a freeze on the city’s spending and enforce it.

“I feel like we’ve reached a point where there is too much spending going on, and the spending is just going to have to slow down,” said Jerry Gilliam. “Like Carl said, we are going to have to freeze certain areas until we build our funds back up. We can’t continue spending and spending and spending, and there is no money coming in.”

Yvonne Gilliam said someone is going to have to keep a better eye on the city’s spending.

The council voted not to approve the financial reports due to the uncertainty of several items found in the report.