Council Reviews Requests

BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS WILL BE MADE AT MEETING IF THERE ARE ANY

— The Springdale City Council plans to make its changes, if any, in the 2011 budget on Nov. 29.

The council reviewed department budgets Monday, going over courts, city attorney’s off ce, buildings, planning, airport, Shiloh Museum, the library, parks, animal shelter and administration.

The reviews concentrated on the addition of another computer network technician and bumping the Chamber of Commerce contract by $50,000.

Perry Webb, president of the Springdale Chamber of Commerce, explained why the money request for city economic development grew from $100,000 to $150,000.

The chamber is creating a separate organization foreconomic development, Webb said.

The chamber also has service contracts with the Springdale Advertising and Promotion Commission for $60,000 and the Public Facilities Board for $17,400.

“We would put 100 percent of the money from the city into a separate account,” Webb said.

The success of economic development by the council could be measured by creating jobs and increasing sales tax revenue, Webb said.

The additional technician is needed, said Wyman Morgan, city director of administration and fi nance, since only three people are maintaining a network of 198 computers and 25 servers.

The council also could discuss any changes on Dec. 6.

The council usually triesto approve the budget at its first meeting in December, which would fall on Dec. 14 this year.

The state requires city budgets to be approved by Feb. 1 of each year. The 2009 Springdale city budget was not passed until the last week of January 2009.

Projected income for the general fund would be slightly lower than expenses, in the proposed budget submitted by Mayor Doug Sprouse. The mayor’s budget estimates general fund income at $27.62 million and expenses at $27.69 million, a shortfall of $60,000. The shortfall could be made up from a $200,000 carryover from the 2010 budget, Morgan said.

Department after department reported Monday their budgets for 2011 were at or below the 2010 budgets.

“Mine is like everybody else’s,” said Allyn Lord,director of the Shiloh Museum. “New year’s like last year.”

Any department wanting major equipment expenses should attend the meeting, said Bobby Stout, council finance committee chairman. Sprouse removed all capital expense items from the budget, according to his memorandum included with his budget.

News, Pages 3 on 11/23/2010

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