BELLA VISTA -- The City Council voted unanimously to pass a budget for 2018.
The new budget, according to documentation released by the city, increases overall spending to $20,235,846, compared with $18,355,900 in the 2017 budget -- an increase of 10.24 percent.
Council member Doug Fowler said that, while the spending has increased, it's in line with projected increases in the city's income for next year. This budget will outpace that projected income, he said, and dip into the city's cash reserves, but the difference is not expected to be drastic.
"We're going to be adding nine firemen ... four policemen, one chief inspector in community development and one IT person," Fowler said. "We're going to be in good standing moving forward over the next two years."
Those firefighters, he said, will be partly covered by a federal grant, which should handle 75 percent of the expenses for them over the next few years.
Mayor Peter Christie said he intends to have a hiring freeze in place for the next two years. With these employees, he said, the city should be fully staffed.
Christie has previously said he wants to have the budget finished in November so departments can get things in motion for 2018 in December. This is what the city did for 2017, he said, and it went smoothly.
Anyone interested in knowing more about the budget's details, he said, can request a copy at city hall.
"I'd like to thank council for the time they have put in on this ... going through each and every line," he said.
Fowler said he thinks it's important for the council to vote carefully on a budget.
"Once that budget is passed, we own it. It's important to really look at that budget close and know what's going on."
The council also passed an amendment to the city's record retention policy, an amendment to city code to start collecting fines at the new Bella Vista court facility,an amended cost-share agreement for wayfinding signage and a meeting schedule for 2018.
Christie said it's important to note that, starting in December, the city council will meet in the new court facility at 612 W. Lancashire Blvd.
"I'd like to just pause for a moment and express our thanks to the legion for allowing us to use this building," he said.
NW News on 11/28/2017