Weatherford budget on track for the year

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August 31, 2012

Weatherford budget on track for the year

Brian Smith CNHI The Weatherford Democrat Fri Aug 31, 2012, 08:00 AM CDT

WEATHERFORD — City of Weatherford is in good budgetary shape heading into the final two months of the Fiscal Year 2011-12 budget, city council members found out Tuesday night.

Director of Management and Budget Chad Janicek gave the July financial report and said the city had collected 88 percent of its revenues for the year with 83 percent of the year gone while only using 78 percent of its budgeted expenditures.

Property tax collections through July are at $5.06 million, or 102.5 percent of budget. According to a staff report, the number could eventually reach 103 percent by the end of the year. The city budgeted $24.8 million in revenue for the year and has received $21.8 million to date.

Sales tax collections through July are at $8.04 million, or about 93 percent of the budgeted $8.7 million, Janicek said. Fines and building permit revenue continue to trend downward, with year to date collections at 58 and 51 percent of the budget, respectively.

The city’s hotel/motel tax fund revenues continue the trend up from last year. With two months left, the city has already collected $432,934 of its budgeted $455,300, or about 95 percent of revenue. Ninety-four percent of expenditures have already been used.

Officials from the state comptroller’s office said taxable hotel and motel receipts are up 29 percent over the same month last year, Janicek said.

Projected overall reestimates have the city ending the year 2 percent over budget in revenues and 2 percent under budget in expenditures.

The council also approved a new fee schedule for fiscal year 2012. Most of the fees will remain the same except for an increase in the utility security deposits which will provide more stability for the city’s Municipal Utility Fund in the event a customer enrolled after the Sept. 1 effective due date leaves unpaid utility bills.

Council authorized the city manager to accept a contract from the Texas Department of Information Resources for public safety technology and equipment for the police department. Mobile data terminals and in-car video surveillance equipment is nearing its life expectancy.

The city will be spending about $341,000 of budgeted funds for the project.

In other news, council members:

• Adopted an ordinance establishing speed limits during specific times on West Water Street adjacent to the Weatherford ISD Travis Family Center. Between the hours of 7 and 8 a.m. and 1 to 2 p.m. the speed limit is 20 mph beginning at the east right of way of Bryan down Water to Hobson Streets.

• Authorized the placement of a stop sign on Carlisle Drive at the Dicey Road intersection.