Springdale aldermen approve 2016 budget

SPRINGDALE -- City officials are budgeting about $2.4 million more for 2016 than in 2015's budget.

Aldermen approved the 2016 budget at Tuesday's City Council meeting. The budget lists about $39.8 million in expenditures, while the original 2015 budget had about $37.4 million in expenditures, according to a draft of the 2016 budget.

Council Action

Springdale’s City Council met Tuesday and approved:

• An amendment to the city’s code about driveways in residential areas.

• Waiving competitive bidding forgrant administrative services with the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District for $30,000.

• A contract with Wittenberg, Delony & Davidson Architects. The agreement would be for a needs assessment and programming study for a new city administration building.

• Rezoning 8.95 acres on the southwest corner of Emma Avenue and Butterfield Coach Road to medium density multi-family residential district.

Source: Staff Report

The 2016 budget projects about $38.3 million in revenue, while the original 2015 budget projected about $36.4 million in revenue. That leaves in the proposed 2016 budget about $1.5 million more in expenditures than revenue.

Mayor Doug Sprouse has said the city traditionally comes in under budget on expenses and over budget on revenue. He has said he expects 2016 to be no different.

The increase in revenue and expenditures is due to Springdale being a growing city, Sprouse said Tuesday. The increase in revenue is mostly from the city receiving more money from sales tax, because more people are purchasing items in Springdale. Sprouse spoke about increases in services and building more roads as examples of expenditure increases.

The Police Department, Fire Department and Parks and Recreation Department are among the largest budget increases out of all of the city's departments, according to a memorandum included in a draft of the budget. Those increases over the original 2015 budget are $683,150 for the Police Department, $347,020 for the Fire Department and $591,580 for the Parks and Recreation Department, according to a draft of the 2016 budget.

Administration's increase is also among the largest budget increases out of the city's departments. That budget increased $721,540 over the original 2015 budget, according to a draft of the 2016 budget.

Sprouse spoke on Nov. 16 about budgeting $50,000 for a possible increase in payment to the Springdale Chamber of Commerce and an added line item of $50,000 that might be used for a contract with the Downtown Springdale Alliance. The first increase was requested by the chamber and would be connected to a contract with the chamber.

The use of the money for the alliance would also be included in a contract, Sprouse has said. Perry Webb, president of the chamber, has said the next phase for the alliance is to begin programming. He said there's enough happening downtown that $50,000 isn't even close to what the alliance will need.

Sprouse has said the money could be used for part of the salary for the alliance's new executive director.

Sprouse has mentioned the possibility of the city applying for the Walton Family Foundation's Design Excellence Program for the design of a new city administration building. A 2016 staffing list for administration in the draft of the 2016 budget also notes a new public relations position and an additional accountant.

Mike Overton was the only alderman present at the meeting to vote against the 2016 budget. He said he's against it for multiple reasons. One of the reasons is the budget allows for the city to subsidize the Springdale Chamber of Commerce, which is a private entity. He said he doesn't agree with taxpayer dollars going to a private entity.

NW News on 11/25/2015

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