Fairhope, Alabama
Mayor Kant has released his proposal for the City's FY 2014 budget (click -- then again on next page) -- but the city council probably won't finalize it before the end of the fiscal year (Oct. 1st). The mayor is projecting total revenue of about $59.5 million and expenses of $54.9 million, leaving a surplus of $4.6 million. There will be no new borrowing and total debt reduction projected is to be $4.2 million.
Highlights include:
* A 3% cost of living raise for city employees
costing $328,661 per year
* $3.4 million from the general fund for capital
projects including :
1. A 10 field Soccer complex on Manley
Rd. ($2 million)
2. Replacement of the community park
playground ($429K -- using remaining BP oil spill funds)
3. Fairhope Ave. Roundabout (@ Hwy 13) -- $265K
4. Renovation of restrooms on the pier -- $25K
5. Widen Fairhope Ave east of Greeno -- $369K
6. A floral clock -- $34K (Section St. and Hwy 104 intersection)
7. New stairs at the Beach parks -- $10K
* Capital projects for utilities totaling $12,136,000, including:
1. $10 million for sewer plant upgrades
* $3 million for debt reduction using sales tax revenue
* 2 new police vehicles -- $80K
* one new garbage truck -- $243K
* $267K to paint another water tank tower and $700K for a new water line
REVENUE UP
Property taxes are projected to decline slightly (from $4 million to $3.9); but sales tax revenue will increase by about one million dollars (from $4.9 to 5.9 million). The recent annexation of Walmart into the city limits is a contributing factor.
Building permit and inspection fees are slated to rise considerably as well.
'COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT' EXPENDITURES DECREASED
The mayor called community development appropriations the "biggest challenge" -- and said he had cut it from the $1.2 million originally requested (click) to $700K; but he did not specify which projects he proposed to reduced or delete in the draft he released to the media.
Kant noted that the city of Daphne spends only about $100K yearly on such projects.
According to a source at city hall, the EAC (local school funding supplement) and Chamber of Commerce appropriations were reduced in the mayor's proposal.
Mayor Kant: "I'm asking for input ... need to get some deadlines in place ... community development is the biggest challenge ... everybody's all over the spectrum on that ... none of its set in stone ... ."
BURRELL SAYS 'TAKE IT SERIOUSLY'
Council President Burrell thanked the mayor and staff for the draft budget and asked council members to "take a lot of time to look it over."
Burrell: " ... please take it seriously ... ask a lot of questions ... take them to the mayor or bring to the council."
Highlights include:
* A 3% cost of living raise for city employees
costing $328,661 per year
* $3.4 million from the general fund for capital
projects including :
1. A 10 field Soccer complex on Manley
Rd. ($2 million)
2. Replacement of the community park
playground ($429K -- using remaining BP oil spill funds)
3. Fairhope Ave. Roundabout (@ Hwy 13) -- $265K
4. Renovation of restrooms on the pier -- $25K
5. Widen Fairhope Ave east of Greeno -- $369K
6. A floral clock -- $34K (Section St. and Hwy 104 intersection)
7. New stairs at the Beach parks -- $10K
* Capital projects for utilities totaling $12,136,000, including:
1. $10 million for sewer plant upgrades
* $3 million for debt reduction using sales tax revenue
* 2 new police vehicles -- $80K
* one new garbage truck -- $243K
* $267K to paint another water tank tower and $700K for a new water line
REVENUE UP
Property taxes are projected to decline slightly (from $4 million to $3.9); but sales tax revenue will increase by about one million dollars (from $4.9 to 5.9 million). The recent annexation of Walmart into the city limits is a contributing factor.
Building permit and inspection fees are slated to rise considerably as well.
'COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT' EXPENDITURES DECREASED
The mayor called community development appropriations the "biggest challenge" -- and said he had cut it from the $1.2 million originally requested (click) to $700K; but he did not specify which projects he proposed to reduced or delete in the draft he released to the media.
Kant noted that the city of Daphne spends only about $100K yearly on such projects.
According to a source at city hall, the EAC (local school funding supplement) and Chamber of Commerce appropriations were reduced in the mayor's proposal.
Mayor Kant: "I'm asking for input ... need to get some deadlines in place ... community development is the biggest challenge ... everybody's all over the spectrum on that ... none of its set in stone ... ."
BURRELL SAYS 'TAKE IT SERIOUSLY'
Council President Burrell thanked the mayor and staff for the draft budget and asked council members to "take a lot of time to look it over."
Burrell: " ... please take it seriously ... ask a lot of questions ... take them to the mayor or bring to the council."
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