T h e IN D E P E N D E N T , M ay 16, 200 1
Page 9
anks budget approved, but water user revenue is questionable
Banks budget committee
approved a budget that Mayor
Bob Orlowski said should have
the city out of debt by the end
of the next fiscal year, at their
meeting May 10th. Recent ac
tions by the city council, contin
ued cost saving measures, the
proposed addition of $60,000
of water franchise fees and
larger than expected property
tax revenue all contribute to a
positive ending fund balance
by June 2002. Council will act
Tri-Gity Rural
Fire District
Abbreviations: EMS, Emergen
cy Medical Service; MVA, Mo
tor Vehicle Accident
APRIL, 2001
April 1 -
April 3 -
April 5 -
April 7 -
April 8 -
April 13 -
April 1 4 -
April
April
April
April
16-
17-
18-
19 -
April
April
April
April
April
20 -
22 -
25 -
27-
29-
MVA
MVA
EMS assist
Auto Alarm
Illegal Burn
EMS Assist
MVA (2)
Illegal Burn
Auto Alarms (3)
EMS Assist
EMS Assist (2)
EMS Assist
Power Lines Down
Brush Fire
EMS Assist
EMS Assist
MVA
EMS Assist
EMS Assist
EMS Assist
MVA
MVA (2)
EMS Assist (2)
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on the water fee at a special
meeting on May 16.
Orlowski said that projected
revenues increased from $61.4
million to $66.4 million. The
budget he presented has no
funds operating in the red and
reflects a positive ending fund
balance of $44,983 in the gen
eral fund, to carry over to the
following year. The expected
ending deficit for this year is
$82,000, a significant reduction
from the year’s beginning
deficit of $137,000.
The city is making a serious
effort to “eliminate black holes”,
make payroll cohesive and
consistent, and ensure that
payroll can be tracked across
city funds according to Orlows
ki. Personnel expenses are
shared on a pro rata basis in
the general fund, the water
fund and the police department
since the road department
does not have any employees.
However, water department
employees, who have not pre
viously separated out hours
worked in each department,
have made road repairs. Unfor
tunately, this has resulted in
higher liability costs since road
workers have a high liability
cost.
Councilor Ryan Birr asked
why no liability cost is reflected
under the street fund. This
year records have been kept
and the city may receive a re
duction in liability costs reflect
ing lower rates for water de
partment tasks. Orlowski said
he would discuss with the city
accountant how to appropriate
ly reflect liability costs for street
repairs.
The city’s healthiest fund,
the water fund, includes the
$520,000 balance of the loan
for water system improve
ments, $18,000 for the IWRM
water feasibility study, $23,000
to secure an emergency water
supply from Quail Valley, and
$5,000 to bring the TVID line
under the railroad to allow fu
ture connection for irrigation.
City engineer Dale Merrell said
that, due to recent improve
ments, most of the city’s water
system is less than five years
old so the city does not need to
budget much for repairs. How
ever, $50,000 is budgeted to
transfer to the depreciation
fund to cover future repairs and
improvements. The water fund
also includes money for securi
ty and enforcement that will be
used by the police department.
Repayment of the loan for
water system improvements
will begin in March of next year
with a $53,500 first payment.
This loan, from the state, func
tions like a line of credit for up
to the full amount of $520,000.
After completion of the project
the actual amount of the loan
will be determined. It is expect
ed that actual costs will be far
below the available funds. Fu
ture year’s payment amounts
Banks City Council has
scheduled a special meeting
Wednesday, May 16, at 7:30
p.m. in City Hall, to continue
consideration of a proposal to
institute water user fees in an
effort to reduce the city’s sub
stantial budget deficit. The spe
cial meeting was decided upon
during the regularly scheduled
meeting of May 8.
A fee of one-cent for every
thousand gallons of water used
would generate approximately
$60,000 of income for the city
at a nominal cost to users.
Last month city residents and
other water users received a
questionnaire with water bills
about various options the city is
considering.
Responses to the question
naire indicated a lot of confu
sion about the proposed in
crease, according to Councilor
Gary Coffey. Mayor Bob Or
lowski noted that some resi
dents even indicated that they
would prefer an increase in
property tax, a move that would
nearly double property taxes in
order to generate a like amount
of income. Most of the resi
dents who responded indicated
• Dependability
from turf to
treetop
Depth adjustment
wheel makes for
easy cutting
The
police
department
budget appears to be reduced
but is actually increased, due
to $26,910 that is included in
the water fund budget. The de
partment has budgeted im
provement in their computer
system based on a $98,000
grant they have applied for.
Chief Daryl Crandall discussed
with the committee the city’s
need for reliable police cars.
Several adjustment were made
to reflect increased gas and
utility costs.
a preference for the .001/gallon cording to Lucas, might be con
sidered a tax rather than a fee.
rate.
Orlowski said that with con Due to illness, Lucas missed
tinued reductions in expenses last month’s discussion of the
and other actions to be taken fee and had not been consult
by the council he would expect ed in the interim. Orlowski
the city to be out of debt by the asked Lucas to provide clarifi
end of the next fiscal year, cation on the issue and to pre
June 30, 2002. Councilor Teri pare a sample resolution.
Due to importance of the is
Brandstitr expressed the need
for the city to pay back the debt sue Mayor Orlowski asked the
as soon as possible. The city audience at the meeting if
needs to maximize income eq there was any public comment
uitably across the population on this issue. No comments
according to Orlowski. Coun were offered.
cilor Katie Murdoch continues
to be concerned that the mon
ey raised by user fees be used
to pay the debt and not be
The fifth annual Dan Hilger
come a long-term source of in Memorial Trap Shoot will be
held Saturday, May 19, at
come for the city.
While it is common for cities 12:00 p.m. at Sunset Park in
to charge a franchise fee to util Banks. Hosted by Bighorn Log
ities, as Banks does for gas ging and the Sunset Gun Club,
and electric utilities, any addi all proceeds from the trap
tional fee must be reasonable shoot are donated to the Chil
and equitable across utilities dren of Dan Hilger Trust Fund.
Among this year’s activities
according to city attorney Jim
will
be fun shoots for all skill
Lucas. Current franchise fees
are assessed against the utility, levels and a 30 bird draw
not the user. The water user backer. Beginners and those
fee being discussed by the who haven’t shot for a while,
council would be assessed will have a chance to practice
P le a s e s e e p a g e 10
against the water user and, ac-
Annual H ilger
Memorial Shoot
Banks ana Manning
Ye Olde
Merchants Dingheiser
FC75Edger
'
traffic impact reserve fund.
These funds are available only
for certain very specific proj
ects and the money must be
available if a requested project
is approved. Orlowski said that
the city “must get out of debt
and build funds, not borrow.”
Banks council meeting on proposed water user fee
Q U A L IT Y
25.4 cc
engine
12.8 lbs
and the term of the loan will be
determined after completion of
the project.
The library fund continues to
receive increased reimburse
ments from Washington Coun
ty due to increased circulation
and extended hours. The li
brary made some adjustments
to even out cash flow and has
begun to build up library funds
for the future. Plans are to con
tinue to increase staffing and
open hours.
The street and road fund in
cludes a $25,000 grant that the
city has applied for to allow
construction that would bring
the sidewalk and curb into dis
ability compliance. Wilkes St. is
also scheduled for improve
ment.
Historically, the city has
“borrowed” money from the
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