No Argument Here: U City Passes Budget 7-0

After hammering out the details in previous sessions, all that was left to do was vote. The City Council approved the 2013 Fiscal Year budget by a vote of 7-0 Monday night.

The budget begins July 1 and runs through June 30, 2013.

According to the budget document, the operating budget finances the day-to-day provision of City services and totals $32.3 million. 

The capital improvement budget funds the construction of city facilities, such as police/fire stations and libraries, in addition to the construction of roads, public amenities and other infrastructure throughout the City. That budget is $5.5 million.

Some highlights of the budget are as follows:

The General Fund provides revenues to support general operations of the city. Revenues include property tax, sales tax, intergovernmental revenue, license fees, gross receipts tax, inspection fees, charges for city services, parks and recreation fees, municipal court and parking, and miscellaneous revenue. The largest single source of income to the General Fund is the City’s share of a county-wide one percent (1 percent) sales tax.  

Approximately 32.3 percent of the total General Fund revenue is generated from all types of sales tax. Other revenue sources include:

• Gross Receipts Tax (Utility Tax) — 26.6 percent,
• Property Tax — 13.5 percent
• Intergovernmental — 7.7 percent.   

Changes from 2012 to 2013

• Professional Services $8,500 decrease (-5 percent) due to lower estimates for public communications, media relations, calendar design, and consultants’ fees. 
• Legal Services $27,000 decrease (-18 percent) 
• Temporary Labor $10,000 increase (100 percent) reflects a possible need for additional assistance since the Administrative Analyst position is no longer filled. 
• Office Equipment Maintenance $2,000 decrease (-54 percent) shows an expectation of reduced photocopier usage. 
• Staff Training $500 increase (50 percent)
• Membership & Certification $3,500 increase (178 percent) reflects FY 11 actual spending, a better indicator of FY 13 spending. 
• Miscellaneous Operating Services $1,000 increase (50 percent) reflects FY 11 actual spending. 
• Office & Computer Equipment $300 increase (43%) is to fund a necessary computer upgrade. 
• Food $400 increase (67%) is based on the actual spending levels in FY 11 and 12.

The city council looked at several items of interest after the 2012 budget surplus became clearer. The following are items that received additional funds from the 2012 fund balancew.

Other Fiscal Year 2012-13 budget stories: