Othello starts 2011 with less funds than a year ago
OTHELLO — Othello starts 2011 with less money than last year.
The fund is about half a million dollars less than the starting
2010 general fund.
Yet the city remains in a healthy financial state, according to
Othello Finance Officer Mike Bailey.
The 2011 general fund budget will have around $1.2 million to
divide among various city departments, Bailey said in a budget
discussion.
“I
want to really commend all city staff for keeping the budget slim
this year,” said councilmember Kenneth Johnson.
In
a preliminary budget discussion, the city decided to use around
$387,500 from the general fund towards various department
purchases.
Councilmembers will look at the enterprise funds in the next
council meeting. Enterprise funds comes from water, sewer and solid
waste services and are kept in service through user fees.
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city can borrow money collected through the enterprise funds to pay
for any loss from the general fund.
The city did not have to make any position cuts from the general
fund for 2011.
The largest purchases made through the general fund was a
skateboard park and the continued construction on a Community
Center, both costing $100,000.
Othello Police Department also asked for fund increase in the
upcoming budget.
The police department asked city council to consider turning a
part-time dispatcher position into full-time, adding an additional
$19,885 to their 2011 budget.
The department also asked for an additional police officer to add
on to its current 15 officers on staff, which would require an
additional $65,206 from the general fund.
“Re-establishing the allocated strength will allow us to
participate in other programs,” stated Othello Police Chief Steve
Dunnagan.
City council decided to allow for the department to add an
additional officer and not turn the part-time into a full-time
dispatcher position.
Councilmembers said that they would rather continue paying for any
overtime incurred through the part-time dispatcher position,
reasoning the cost is still less than turning the position into
full-time.
“In 2010, the city paid the part-time dispatcher $6,500 in overtime
charges,” said Bailey.
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few other departments asked for increased funds in the upcoming
budget as well.
City Hall will make its building compliant with the Americans with
Disabilities Act with an upgrade costing $15,000.
City officials are also looking to increase funds for exterior
maintenance purposes, costing $20,000.
Bailey said the city is hoping to approve its budget for 2011
before Nov. 22.
As
budget discussions continue, councilmember Marc Spohr reminded the
council of the current state of the economy.
“The minimum wage got a slight raise this year and Social Security
received zero increase. I believe it is the prudent thing to do to
not raise our salaries higher,” said Spohr.