SPRINGDALE — Aldermen at Monday’s hearing on Springdale Police and Fire departments’ budgets were more interested in where the money for the 2010 budget was coming from.

Alderman Mike Overton quizzed financial workers about the balance of the city’s general fund and the Capital Improvement Program fund. When he was told the general fund balance was about $1.8 million and the improvement fund balance was about $18 million, he suggested the city should stop segregating the money and put it in one account.

“It’s something for us to consider down the road to combine all the funds,” Overton said. “It’s too hard to keep up with both funds.”

The budget proposed by Mayor Doug Sprouse included splitting the city’s 1 percent sales tax equally between the two funds. Since the tax was approved in the early 1990s, the tax was split with 75 percent going to improvement and 25 percent to general.

A second 1 percent city tax is dedicated to paying o◊bonds sold to finance street improvement and Arvest Ballpark.

The council approved moving $4.18 million from the improvement fund to the general fund for the last budget, to balance a reduction in city income. Adjusting the tax would require a transfer of $149,730 to balance the 2010 budget.

The proposed budget estimates income and expenses of about $27.3 million. The 2009 budget,adjusted during the year, projected an increase in the general fund of $700,000.

The projected figures, however, show an increase in the general fund of $1.6 million by the end of 2009.

The Police Department reached its goal set to reduce its budget by $633,000, said Police Chief Kathy O’Kelley. Half the goal was reached when the Springdale School District agreed to reimburse the department for school resource officers. The department also raised the book-in fees at the jail by $50,000 and dropped its fuel costs by $80,000.

O’Kelley asked for six replacement police cruisers in 2010 after receiving 12 in 2009.

“We took 21 cars out of service this year,” O’Kelley said. “I think we can get by with six, however.”

The department plans to purchase six cars through a stimulus grant, O’Kelley said.

The Fire Department plans to purchase an ambulance module for $130,000 to go on the chassis bought last year. Money for the module and chassis come from an account which only can be spent for ambulances and equipment, said Duane Atha, fi re chief.

The finance committee plans to hear from all remaining departments except administration Monday.

News, Pages 1 on 11/03/2009

Comments

To report abuse or misuse of this area please hit the "Suggest Removal" link in the comment to alert our online managers.

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.