- Mona's tentative budget
discussed at Council meeting
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By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
State law requires that a tentative budget for next
fiscal year, which begins July 1, be filed with the city
council at its first meeting in May.
The fiscal year, different from the calendar year, runs
from June 1 to May 31, each year.
Though the item was not listed separately on the Mona
City Council agenda, it was handled under listed item (E)
the Paying of Finances.
"According to my instructions," said Everd Squire, city
treasurer, "we are to review the preliminary budget at the
first meeting in May and then adopt the final budget at the
first meeting in June."
In keeping with state law, the tentative budget was
prepared for the council to review. However, also by state
law, the tentative budget should be listed as an item on the
advertised city council agenda so that, if the public has
concerns, they may attend meeting to address them.
However, public hearings will be held in the future in
the budget adoption process and those will be
advertised.
General Fund revenues come from property taxes, expected
to be at $28,000 in 2004, from general sales and use taxes,
expected to be $58,000, from franchise taxes, expected to be
$100, and fee-in-lieu taxes, expected to be $9,000.
Property tax collections should bring in approximately
$6,000 more in 2004 than in 2003.
"With the added homes in the community, property tax
should come close to that," said Squire.
The city also expects revenues of $600 in business
licenses and permits, $214,000 in building, structures and
equipment, $300 in animal licenses, liquor fund allotment
fees of $100, refuse collection fees of $60,000, parks and
public property $1,200 and cemeteries $2,500.
Interest earnings should bring revenues of $4,200 and
rents and concessions $100, contributions from private
sources should be $2,000.
"There should be a beginning Class 'C" Road Fund Balance
to be appropriated of about $5,000," said Squire. 'The Class
'C' Road Fund Allotment should be $46,000 this year."
The amount should be approximately $5,000 more than is in
the fund for 2003.
Squire wondered if the council thought the fund would be
enough to serve the needs of the community in 2004.
"It takes about $45,000 to do two blocks," said Doran
Kay, council member.
However, said Bryce Lynn, mayor, at current prices an
overlay cost about $10,000 per block.
Before the budget is finalized, Harry Newell, council
member over roads, will survey the community roads and
determine what needs to be done.
In all, said Squire, the total revenues for the city will
be $241,700. Last year the revenues were $217,450.
Administrative expenditures were raised by $10,000 over
last year.
From that category comes wages for the auditor, clerk,
treasurer, recorder, attorney, surveyor, and the assessor
and costs for the planning commission, elections, supplies,
and utilities.
"One reason for increasing the budget in this area is
that it is a good place to take money from when we run short
in other places," said Squire.
"I also increased the parks budget by $600," he said.
The legislative branch of Mona government, the city
council, has a budget of $9,000.
The police department was budgeted $2,000, protective
inspections were budgeted $6,300 and other protective
services, the First Responders, were budgeted $1,000.
Animal control and regulation has a budget of $2,700.
The budget appropriation for highways is $45,000,
sanitation $60,000, parks and recreation $11,500, recreation
and culture $5,500, cemeteries $8,000, community development
$2,000 for expected fund expenditures of $241,700.
In all, the appropriated increase in the fund balance was
$20,700 down from $29,550 expected for 2003.
It will cost more for the natural gas system in 2004 than
in 2003.
"The new prices take effect in September," said Doran
Kay. He suggested adjusting the pre-paid prices now, before
the winter arrives.
"I think, if we shoot for a 70 percent increase in the
cost, we will be about right," said Kay. "We can adjust now,
if it comes to that."
In the gas system category, the city still has a bond
payment of $43,000 each year.
Charges for services amount to $200,000 and will need to
increase to $340,000 with interest earned coming in at
$25,500.
Personal services should be $5,700, contractual services
should be $250,000, materials and supplies at $6,000,
depreciation at $12,000, and the bond payment of $43,000 add
up to $316,700 which is considerably more than 2003's
$198,300.
Operating income (loss) will be up from $4,200 to
$25,500.
Interest expense should be $15,000, interest expense
should be $30,000, and net income loss should be
$10,800.
"The last page of the budget proposal is water," said
Squire.
Charges for services are $80,000, impact fees are $90,000
for a total operating revenue of $170,000.
Operating expenses are estimated at $10,000 for personal
services, $80,000 for contractual services, $20,000 for
material and supplies, $3,000 for depreciation, and
pressurized irrigation $121,200.
Connection fees are $19,000, interest expense is $29,000,
and the net income (loss) is $38,300.
"The water budget includes irrigation rental for water
used on the parks and at the school," said Squire.
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