City officials made some last-minute tweaks to the proposed 2015 budget this week, increasing appropriations by more than $100,000.
The city council voted unanimously to approve Ordinance No. 1196, the 2015 annual appropriations order, on Tuesday, Nov. 25. Totaling $29.6 million, the 2015 budget includes $18.1 million for operations, $7.2 million for capital projects, $99,000 in grants, nearly $2 million in interfund services, $1.1 million in depreciation and $1 million in debt service. The ordinance is subject to a public hearing on Dec. 9.
The budget includes an additional $45,000 disbursement in the city water fund to hire a water operator. Public Works director Phil Johnson described the investment as “absolutely necessary.”
“This is not a stop-gap measure,” Johnson told city council members. “This will allow us to elevate our level of service.”
Enabling greater flexibility for scheduling, the licensed operator will be recruited from in-house as directed by city policy, said City Manager Shane Hale.
Next year’s budget also includes some $1 million to upgrade the city’s water meter system. Projected to save the city nearly $170,000 annually, the automated smart meters would transfer data electronically.
The city’s water fund is forecast to include more than $1.8 million in capital projects and nearly $1.3 million in operations in 2015. Total water revenues are projected at more than $3.2 million.
Another late addition to the city’s 2015 budget included $35,000 for corridor beautification efforts, increasing the line-item expenditure to a total of $150,000. The added appropriation would be earmarked for a proposed art sculpture at the U.S. 491/160 interchange.
Hale said a local artist would be recruited for the project. The display would be subject to state transportation guidelines and public input.
Other last-minute budget additions included $25,000 for geospatial imagery to be used by emergency dispatch officials and $5,600 for a second golf course foreman.
Total city revenues for 2015 are forecast at nearly $10.8 million. The bulk of those revenues, nearly $8 million, are from taxes. Adding carry-over funds of $4.8 million, the city expects to start 2015 with $15.6 million in total available resources.
City officials also voted to approve Ordinance No. 1195 this week, appropriating supplemental funds, rectifying budgeted excess and making budget revisions for the 2014 fiscal budget. The measure is also subject to a public hearing on Dec. 9.
Describing all city funds as healthy, finance director Kathi Moss said revised appropriations for 2014 decreased by more than $2.8 million, mostly due to deferred capital improvement projects.
tbaker@cortezjournal.com