City council crunches budget
June 11, 2014
By Temple Ligon
Columbia City Council met Tuesday morning, June 10, for a workshop and that night for a FY-2014/2015 budget public hearing.
Excerpts from Tuesday’s budget workshop and the evening council meeting:
Revenues are expected at $111,029,947, a 4% increase. Transfers are budgeted at $16,865,000, which is a reduction of 5%. A $250,000 reduction, water and sewer transfer is budgeted at $4,000,000. All told, general property tax is just above $50,000,000. At an increase of $3,239,707 (or 3% above the current year), the proposed general fund budget is $127,894,947.
The $127,894,947 general fund by “catagory” (sic) allows for personnel service ($81,419,146, 64%), operating expenses ($7,810,143, 6%), service expenses ($16,906,534, 13%), risk management ($1,961,044, 2%), capital outlay ($8,215,290, 6%), and non-departmental and transfers out ($11,582,790, 9%).
Split into two major categories, the $127,894,947 general fund is for public safety ($60,264,146, 47%), and the rest goes to all other departments ($67,630,801, 53%).
The strategic plan for public safety in the coming year includes six telecommunicators and two call takers for the 911 emergency communication center at current service levels. Richland County shares in the 911 center with its contribution, $225,000.
Youth crime prevention is enhanced with a new sergeant and a new officer added to the police department. The youth sports initiative is expanded to include staffing and operational costs at parks and recreation.
Homeless services come to $1,000,000; and security cameras, $475,000; county detention center per diem, $450,000; and budgeted emergency reserve, $250,000.
Debt service – as part of the total transfers out of $15,571,973 – comes to $6,203,688, an increase of $705,000 for the proposed issue of $7,000,000 in a capital lease/purchase for 82 replacement vehicles, including 10 additional police cars so the officers can drive vehicles home.
Park projects total $4,168,483: Finlay Park renovations and Busted Plug (installation of Blue Sky’s sculpture), Greenview Park pool and splash pad, Hampton Park community center, Southeast Park environmental education center, Owens Field and Miracle Field, Hyatt Park improvements.
Hospitality tax revenues are projected at $11,122,187, which reflects the use of $1,040,193 from the fund balance to maintain current spending levels.
Accommodations taxes should come in with an increase of $571,154 over the current year budget, which means FY-2014/2015 accommodations taxes total $2,071,154.
Water and sewer revenues are proposed at $127,585,095, a reduction of $623,290 from the current year, which does not reflect a rate increase. City council voted down a rate increase. Sewer sales are projected at $43,385,205, and water sales, $82,508,290. Transfer to the general fund is $4,000,000, a reduction of $250,000. Water capital improvement projects are $35,350,000, and sewer capital improvement projects are $57,640,000, together totaling $91,990,000. Staff will review proposed capital improvement projects and make revisions based upon available funding. Further city council discussions on capital improvement projects are expected in July.
The storm water budget of FY-2014/2015 is $7,589,000, which reflects a decrease of $250,000 in transfer from the general fund. The storm water budget is in balance. The two largest storm water projects are Greenview Subdivision drainage improvements ($1,800,000) and the Bull Street drainage improvements ($1,000,000).
The parking budget is in balance at $6,925,300, which includes a reduction of $281,550, or down 4%, which shows shortcomings in parking meter revenues and parking tickets. The parking study master plan is under due diligence and is expected to be complete early in the fiscal year.
To adopt the final budget, city council will hold a scheduled first reading on June 17 and a second on June 24. This is the eighth year the general fund budget has come without a tax increase.
