Falconville Assignment- Budget
The Falconville City Council met last night to discuss the proposed budget and recommended property tax rate for next fiscal year. The new budget recommended by City Administrator, Joan Bell, will be cut from last year’s $2.4 million to $2.1 million.The budget cuts are zeroing in, affecting ambulance services, down 80.5%; City Attorney’s, Camden Hayden, wages down 51.5%; and Park and Recreation funding down 13%.
Although these funds have been cut, other areas will benefit. When asked what the highlights are of the budget being cut; Bell replied, “Well, most employees got a 4% pay raise and the police got a 5% raise. We also eliminated some duplication and trimmed some costly services. The total budget is down.�
Director of Parks and Recreation, Elaine Hulquist, describes the hurt that the budget cut will create, “We'll undoubtedly be cutting some popular programs and we'll be increasing user fees for some other programs. We're looking into public and private grants for other important programs. We may even seek some corporate sponsorships for some activities.�
“We'll be cutting things such as safe boating classes and free supervised nature walks. The recreation commission is recommending finding alternative funding sources for senior citizen programs and eliminating free summer swimming programs,� Hulquist expects.
Mayor, Henry Smith added, “We're still working on that, but some children's programs and some senior citizen's programs may be curtailed. Expect to see more user fees. We just can't keep doing everything we've been doing. It's too bad. Blame it on the economy and the state's refusal to let us keep property taxes.�
Despite the cuts in Falconville’s budget, the City Administratior’s fund is remaining at $90,000. Bell clarified, “It's not all salary. My portion, including benefits, is $54,000. The rest is for staff help and set-up supplies. I think it's justified when you see what other areas we save in by consolidating duties into one office,� when asked to justify her salary.
Smith also said, “We've consolidated a lot of services into this position and her staff's position. We added $90,000 to that part of the budget, but cut several times that from other parts. She'll also help oversee spending.�
Bell has lived in Falconville for 5 years now; and as the economy fell and budgets tightened, the City Council looked for a more efficient way to run the city. That is when Bell was brought in as a consultant and began serving the job of Acting City Administrator. The City Council voted 5-0 to appoint Bell.
When Vice Mayor, Luis Gomez, was asked about the City Administrator’s position, he replied, “For some time we've had too many cooks running the show. With shrinking revenues we need one person in charge of the department heads. The council can't do it by itself. This is the wisest move we've made in some time.�
“It's been a long-term goal of mine to see it
“We had to cut because of shrinking revenues and the fact that a dollar just won't buy what it used to,� Smith reasoned the budget cuts in a nutshell.
###