Revenue for the City of Alexander’s General Fund exceeded expectations this year with a total of $2,400,774.00. When the 2021 budget was approved in December 2020 estimated revenue to the General Fund was $2,058,483.00.
While most of the revenue for the general fund is from sales taxes, other sources include personal and real estate property taxes, franchise fees, permits, privilege licenses (business licenses), and a share of the state’s sales tax.
Total expenses for the General Fund in 2021 topped out at $1,925,288.90, above the original estimate of $1,616,628.00. That still leaves a surplus of $475,485.10.
The expenses total includes two one-cent city sales taxes that are deposited into the General Fund and distributed to the fire department, police department and parks and recreation department. The sales taxes were approved by voters in two separate elections with the stipulation as to how the taxes would be used. That total for 2021 is $1,057,662.00.
A third one-cent city sales tax was approved by voters in 2017 for the General Fund. The total for that tax in 2021 is $528,831.00.
The 2022 budget, approved by the city council at its Monday, December 20 meeting, estimates a slight increase of revenue in the General Fund of $2,494,960.49, compared to 2021’s final total of $2,400,774.00. Total General Fund expenses are estimated at $2,004,224.70.
For the most part, revenue for the various departments goes into the General Fund first and then is distributed to the other funds. The city’s share of the state fuel tax, however, is deposited directly into the street fund by the state. The 2022 budget estimates that amount at $294,430.64. That would bring total estimated revenue for the city in 2022 at $2,789,391.13.
A breakdown of final 2021 revenue and expenses and estimated revenue and expenses in the 2022 budget by department:
Police Department
2021
Revenue - $821,029.32; Expenses - $633,259.76:
2022
Revenue - $854,691.52; Expenses - $659,223.41:
Fire Department
2021
Revenue - $659,449.00; Expenses - $573,142.00:
2022
Revenue - $828,350.00; Expenses - $657,997.00:
Street Department
2021
Revenue - $282,834.43; Expenses - $281,626.00:
2022
Revenue - $294,430.64; Expenses - $293,172.67:
Parks and Recreation
2021
Revenue - $359,550.16; Expenses - $141,235.00:
2022
Revenue - $374,291.72; Expenses - $147,004.82:
Ever since ownership of some of the park land has come into dispute, improvements to the city park have been halted causing the increase in the budget surplus. Mayor Paul Mitchell says he doesn’t want to spend any more tax dollars on the park, aside from maintenance, until this issue is resolved.
In 2022, payroll for all departments, city hall employees and elected officials is estimated at $1,554,840.00.
Also at the December 20 meeting;
Some Alexander employees to receive Premium Pay from American Rescue Plan
The Alexander Council approved a resolution granting, “Premium pay for certain municipal employees from the American Rescue Plan.” The resolution states the American Rescue Plan Act ( ARPA) was signed into law March 11, 2021 to provide, “[F]iscal relief funds to state and local governments and other program areas aimed at mitigating the continuing effects of the pandemic.”
The stimulus grant funds allow cities, “[T]he option to provide Premium Pay for eligible employees in order to provide additional support to those who have and will bear the greatest health risks because of their service in critical infrastructure sectors,” the resolution states.
According to the resolution a total of $33,868.80 will be distributed to city employees who meet the following ARPA criteria. 1) An eligible worker is anyone, “[N]ecessary to maintain the continuity of operations of essential critical infrastructures;” 2) “Including any additional sectors added by the city’s chief executive,” and 3) “An eligible worker performing eligible work which means regular in-person interaction or regular physical handling of items that were handled by others.”
ARPA criteria also specifies payments will be made to current employees only not to exceed $1,800.00. Payments will be based on the amount of eligible hours worked at $13 an hour up to a maximum of 140 hours worked from March through November 2020.
After the resolution was approved, Mayor Paul Mitchell received permission from council members to give employees who do not qualify for the Premium Pay a $150 bonus. Checks are expected to be distributed before Christmas.
Redistricting ordinance gets first reading
An ordinance to redraw the lines of Alexander’s four wards was given its first public reading. Due to the lack of six council members the second and third readings could not be suspended. State law requires the presence of two-thirds of the council to fast-track an ordinance. There were only four council members present with the mayor making the fifth needed for a quorum.
The wards had to be redrawn after the results of the 2020 Census were reported. By law, the population of wards must be within five-percent, plus or minus, of each other. Under the current ward boundaries wards one and two are too high and wards three and four are too low. (See map of redrawn wards below.)
Citizens Advisory Committee formed
In his report to the city council, Planning Commission Chairman Michael Huck told council members a Citizens Advisory Committee has been formed. Three residents of Meadow’s Edge attended the commissions December 14 meeting and volunteered for the committee. They are Gene Derline, Angela Griffin and Lorinda Peoples.
Huck said after the meeting he received an E-mail from Walter Burgess who has also volunteered to serve. Burgess owns and operates Power Technology, located on Highway 111 just north of Cornerstone Road. Burgess lives in Bryant.
The planning commission will still accept other volunteers if anyone is interested.
The purpose of the advisory committee is to aid the planning commission in writing a new Master Development Plan. A public survey has already been taken as part of the process. The planning commission is waiting for the city council to decide when a public hearing can be held to explain the results of the survey and collect more public input.
Planning Commission Officers unchanged
Planning Commission Chairman Michael Huck reported on the results of the commission’s annual administrative meeting held Monday morning, December 20. All three officers have retained their current positions. Huck was elected chairman, Stephanie Beck was elected vice-chairman and Tonya Prowse was elected secretary.
Looking for a home
Pastor Kenneth Littlejohn of Abundant Grace Christian Church, in Mabelvale, is looking for a location in Alexander to house its outreach program. During the Public Comment portion of the meeting Pastor Littlejohn asked council members for help in finding a location in Alexander where his church can establish a permanent location for the outreach program. He said he will consider either a vacant building or property where a building could be built. Anyone with information can contact him at (501) 366-0350.
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| Pastor Littlejohn and Mayor Paul Mitchell led a Prayer Walk in October, 2017 through the Pulaski County portion of Alexander. |
Next meeting on fourth Monday
Due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday falling on the third Monday in January, the next regular meeting of the Alexander City Council will be held on the fourth Monday, January 24 at 6:00 PM in the courtroom at the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall). The public is invited to attend.