[JAN. 19, 2006]
Les Plotner, Lincoln city treasurer, provided a
state of the state of city finances to date in the fiscal year,
which ends the last day of April. In his report Plotner not only
gave the financial conditions to date, but also provided some
projections to finish out the fiscal year.
City revenues are up for the whole year with the exception of
October's sales taxes. October was down $15,000. Those taxes are
channeled to the city through the state and have a four-month delay.
October sales taxes just came in January. The previous months were
up, creating an average 4.95 percent increase over last year.
Hopefully October was an anomaly, Plotner said.
However, when
looking at the whole year, Plotner said, "If things keep up as they
are, it has been a pretty good year."
Income tax up $124,978; 20.8 percent
Non-home rule up $28,931; 7.1 percent
Telecommunications up $78,791; 88.9 percent
Sales/use tax up $69,690; 4.95 percent
Replacement tax up $58,091; 50.7 percent
Plotner did not project the telecommunications amount for the
rest of the year. It will switch from 3 percent to 6 percent,
bringing even more revenue to the city pot.
While finances are looking good, both Plotner and Busby cautioned
committee chairmen to get hold of finances in their departments.
Busby said last week that he saw that some departments are reaching
the 90 percent mark on some line items, with three months of the
fiscal year to go. He said he was seeing overtime as one of the
issues. The committee chairmen are responsible for the departments
and they have a budget to stick to.
* * *
The Railsplitter Antique Auto Club will host car cruise-ins down
on the square in Lincoln for the second year. The cruise-ins were
approved to take place on the fourth Saturday of each month,
beginning in April, with the exception of August; and there will be
a special cruise-in and time on Heritage Day.
Spectators will be able take a lovely evening stroll among the
cars and talk with owners of the vintage vehicles parked around the
Logan County Courthouse from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on those nights.
* * *
A request to cover $4,770 additional costs of digging 3 1/2 feet
deeper, 600 feet more pipe and materials needed for the installation
of a sanitary sewer line at the Sysco site was tabled. The added
costs are related to a difference in elevation. Alderman Buzz Busby
said that would be an engineering flaw. "They should have known the
drainage and flow," he said.
The council did approve purchase of additional substrate
materials to replace unsuitable soils encountered when digging for
the storm sewer line at the Sysco site. Unit prices of $45, $47 and
$50 per ton were accepted. It was determined that due to
unforeseeable circumstances the city would pay. A bill for the work
can be submitted for reimbursement when the work is done.
The council voted unanimously to deny a request of $3,000 by
Green and Bradford for a trailer for the Sysco site.
* * *
At last week's council meeting the police committee chairman,
Daron Whittaker, recommended that the city hire a new officer. The
department has been down an officer since the retirement of
Detective John Bunner last month. The matter was tabled at Tuesday's
meeting.
* * *
Action on modifications to the liquor code were also tabled
"until the committee can finalize the changes," ordinance chairman
Marty Neitzel said. A committee meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
on Feb. 6.
