Alexander council approves amended 2016 budget, schedules workshop for 2017 budget

(Edited to reflect that this is not the final budget - 01/10/17)

In its first meeting of the year the newly-formed Alexander City Council approved the an final amended version of the 2016 budget, scheduled a workshop meeting to discuss the proposed 2017 budget and approved a resolution establishing who is authorized to sign checks, all within 25 minutes. The short special meeting was held Thursday evening, January 5.

The budget resolution, which establishes the final amended version of the 2016 budget, also allows the city to use the same budget for 2017 until an official budget can be adopted. In a separate motion the council approved using the 2016 budget for 2017. This satisfies the state law which requires a budget be approved before February 1.

The council scheduled a budget workshop meeting for Thursday, January 19, 6 PM in the courtroom at the City Municipal Complex. Council members were given a proposed budget for 2017. The workshop will give aldermen, especially the new ones, the opportunity to have their questions answered. No voting will be done until the regular meeting scheduled for January 23.

According to the budget approved by the council, in 2016 the general fund had will have estimated revenue totaling $1,164,465.00. There was a carryover of $137,809.56 from 2015 giving a total of $1,302,274.56. Total general fund expenses were are estimated at $1,278,253.00 leaving $24,021.56 to start 2017. The expenses include $864,450.00 in sales tax that is distributed from the general fund to the fire, police and park funds as required in two sales tax referendums approved by voters in the early 2000s.

The street department, which is funded by a portion of the state fuel tax and county road tax, is expected to received $246,950.00 in revenue in 2016. With $465,242.06 left over from 2015 the fund had a total of $712,192.06. Total expenses were $243,723.00, which leaves a balance of $468,469.06.

The parks department, which is funded mostly through the sales tax, had a total revenue of $111,769.00. At the end of 2015 there was $344,654.01 left over giving the fund a total of $456,423.01. Total expenses equaled are expected to be $142,870.00. That would leaves a starting balance for 2017 of $313,553.01.

The police department receives most of its revenue from the sales tax and from bonds and fines. In 2016 total revenue was estimated to be $347,922.85. Adding to that $171,502.81 left over from 2015 the police department budget had a total of $519,425.66. Expenses for 2016 totaled are estimated at $307,136.00 leaving $212,289.66 to carryover to 2017.

Finally, the fire department had revenue in is expected to end 2016 with revenue totaling $505,194.13. Most of that is from the sales tax. At the end of 2015 there was $118,083.08 left over giving the fire department fund a total of $623,277.21. Total expenses for 2016 were should come in at $398,471.00 leaving a balance for 2017 of $224,806.21.

The only other item on the agenda was a resolution establishing who is authorized to sign checks for the city. The list now includes Mayor Paul Mitchell, City Treasurer Kenneth Miller, City Recorder Sharon Bankhead, and council members Juanita Wilson and Dan Church.

Last council member sworn-in

Before the special meeting began Elizabeth Bland was sworn-in by Mayor 
Paul Mitchell. Bland, who is one of the two aldermen representing Ward-1, 
was unable to attend the ceremony held Sunday, January 1.