Alexander Council amends budget for 2021, mostly up

The Alexander City Council approved a resolution amending the city’s budget for 2021. As it stands now, estimates show revenues increasing from the original budget in all but one account.
Adjusted estimates for revenue and expenditures in the various funds are:

General Fund
Revenue was $2,058,483.00; Now $2,400,774.00 (UP 16.6%).
Expenses was $1,616,628.00; Now $1,925,288.90 (UP 19.0%).

Police Department
Revenue was $552,226.00; Now $808,683.00 (UP 46.4%).
Expenses was $548,144.00; Now $633,259.76 (UP 15.5%).

Fire Department
Revenue was $606,076.00; Now $828,351.00 (UP 36.6%).
Expenses was $588,027.00; Now $658,504.00 (UP 11.9%).

Street Department
Revenue was $317,599.00; Now $282,834.43 (DOWN 10.9%).
Expenses was $172,612.99; Now $282,675.00. (UP 63.7%).

Parks and Recreation
Revenue was $134,301.00; Now $359,550.16 (UP 167.7%).
Expenses was $126,112.00; Now $141,215.00 (UP 11.9%).

The original 2021 budget estimated payroll for all departments, city hall employees and elected officials at $1,326,657.74. The amended budget has that number at $1,428,576.43 (UP 7.6%). This includes both wages and benefits.

For the most part, revenue for the various departments goes into the General Fund first and then is distributed to the other funds. The police, fire and parks and recreation departments are funded by two one-cent sales taxes, which were designated for those three departments when voters approved the taxes. A third one-cent city sales tax is used for the General Fund. The tax revenue is deposited into the General Fund by the state and then is redistributed to the accounts for those departments. The city’s share of the state fuel tax, however, is deposited directly into the street fund by the state. That money can only be used to fund the street department.

Fortunately, budgets can be established through the use of a resolution. A resolution requires only one public reading and can be approved with a simple majority.

If it had to be done using an ordinance, the ordinance would not be in effect. An ordinance requires three public readings at three separate meetings. To override the second and third reading, and to declare an emergency so the ordinance can become effective the same day it is approved, two-thirds of the council members (that’s six) must vote “Yes.” Four members of the council attended the July 19 meeting; Joe Pollard, Juanita Wilson, Harold Timmerman, and Lonny Chapman. Mayor Paul Mitchell served as the quorum member allowing the meeting to be held, but that’s only five.

Also at the July 19 meeting;
The council approved the appropriation of $28,000.00 to purchase a 1996 Ford Boom Truck for the street department. Mayor Paul Mitchell described the truck as having a diesel engine with 99,000 miles on it. The actual purchase price is $27,635.00. (See photo.)

The truck will be used mainly to aid in removing downed trees. Mitchell said because the truck has its own dump bed and a boom, for lifting limbs, the street department crew can forego loading whatever equipment is needed onto the trailer and driving a dump truck to the scene. Everything can be done with one vehicle in less time.

Mitchell reported the electronic message sign, in front of the Municipal Complex, is under repair. The long-time darkened metal rectangle has had its wi-fi system replaced and is now waiting for a software upgrade.

The next regular meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, August 16 at 6:00 PM in the courtroom at the Alexander Municipal Complex. The public is invited to attend.