[JULY 26, 2005] The city finance committee approved 2005-2006
appropriations in a meeting on July 12. Copies of the finalized
recommendation were handed to aldermen to review before their final
approval.
The city passes a budget for the fiscal year that begins on May 1.
Departments must keep within budget up to the time that
appropriations are passed. After that, expenses not in the budget
can go before their committee and then to the council to be taken
out of appropriations.
In summary, appropriations are a manner of legally supplying
funds for expenses that are potentially expected or completely
unanticipated that are not in the budget.
Comparing last year's figures with this year's figures, it was a
mixed bag of increases and decreases in budget and appropriations. A
quick analysis of the figures shows that revenues and expenditures
are flowing better than in recent past years. Some less necessary
expenses that were reduced or put off during financially austere
times are gradually being restored.
Funds for schools and conferences for the aldermen, the city
clerk or treasurer are budgeted at $8,500 and received an increase
in appropriation up to $25,000.
Funds for fire and police schools and conferences were lower.
Maintenance for equipment, from office needs to department
vehicles, increased in budget and in appropriations in some
departments but decreased in others. Software that Les Last
requested and was asked to put off has been added back in at $3,000.
The building demolitions fund received a significant increase
with the expectation that the funds may be needed. It is anticipated
that the city may find itself shackled with the responsibility of
the cleanup of the old garment factory after a fire destroyed it
July 11. The owner did not have insurance, and the cleanup is
anticipated to cost upwards of $20,000 -- more than the property is
worth.
Nothing was budgeted for demolitions last year and this year. A
total of $50,000 was in the original appropriations. That was upped
to $75,000.
Several comments were made by buildings and grounds chairman
Derrick Crane, Alderman Buzz Busby and Mayor Beth Davis that they
are aware that there are a number of properties around the city that
are need of demolition. They intend to get to these. However, those
take a lot of time and cost in legal processes and fees to
accomplish. "You may have to condemn the building, then begin legal
proceedings to take over," Busby said.
Earlier this year city attorney Bill Bates provided a lengthy
account of all the legal matters that are typically encountered in
that process. One often
problematic issue is that it is difficult to near impossible to
locate and contact all the owners who may have an interest in the
property.
For this reason the city has been and remains focused on catching
up on other improvements, such as the delayed infrastructure work.
Curbs and gutters were budgeted close to last year's figure at
$17,000. At first, $167,000 was appropriated, but that figure has
been modified to $150,000. The new 0.5 percent sales tax for
infrastructure has been helpful in funding this.
Public grounds and buildings maintenance is budgeted at $28,500.
The appropriation was set for $35,000 but has been increased to
$65,000.
In the "just in case" category, nothing was budgeted for the
capital expenditures land acquisition both last year and this year,
but $3,000 has been appropriated both years. Nothing is in the
planning to purchase, but it's always good to have that available
should it be needed, city clerk Melanie Riggs said.
Likewise, "just in case," union contracts of both the fire and
police departments have a death benefit payable to each family in
the sum of $8,500 per family. These aren't budgeted and we hope we
never have to use them, but $42,500 is appropriated for each
department, Riggs said.
Those departments have also appropriated for potential medical
costs, just in case of chemical or biohazard exposure. The fire
department has $14,000 extra and the police department $5,000 extra
appropriated for medical exams and inoculations.
New expenditures added:
The city has been asked by the Logan County Planning Commission
to contribute $30,000 toward the development of the new countywide
comprehensive plan. This has been added to appropriations under the
Lincoln Planning Commission.
The city police K-9 is being retired. Dr. Pierce of Best Friends
Animal Hospital has recommended retiring the 10-year-old German
shepherd. He has reached the typical working dog age of retirement
and has a significant amount of arthritis. The veterinarian believes
medication that will bring him relief will influence his senses,
such as smell, and other capabilities. The amount of $4,000 has been
appropriated for a new dog.
A $10,000 figure will possibly be added to have the capability to
contract out some engineering if needed.
It was determined to increase the school crossing guard wages
from $18 to $19 per day. Their payment comes out of the general
fund.
In the end the appropriations came out about $375,000 ($345,000
with state grant money) above last year's figure. This pleased
finance chair Verl Prather, who complimented the department heads
for holding the line in their budgets. "I appreciate every one of
them," he said.
A public hearing on the appropriations will be held in city
chambers at 7 p.m. today (Tuesday). Immediately following that
hearing, the council will convene to an adjourned session to accept
the appropriations for the 2005-2006 fiscal year.
