Amador County – Sutter Creek City Council on Monday was to consider a mid-year budget report that showed an increase in revenue enough to fund the city swimming pool, and also pay the city’s share of a county narcotics investigation unit. But it also showed some errors in budgeted spending.
City Manager Sean Rabe in a report to the council dated Monday recommended approval of a resolution to update the city budget for the fiscal year 2010-2011 as of December 2010.
The draft resolution, in part, said “city staff has determined that certain estimated revenues in the General Fund can be increased.” It listed “revenue accounts amounting to $75,951 of increased resources for the fiscal year.” It also said “staff has determined that certain expenditure accounts will be needing additional funding or reductions in funding to conclude the fiscal year.” It showed expense accounts with “$52,487 of net increases.” The amendment would restore funding in the swimming pool program to its original budgeted amount.
Rabe in the report said: “In general, the budget is looking to be in good shape,” and noted “increased revenue projections result in the contingency fund increasing from the budgeted $72,000 to $91,000.” The contingency included his recommended budget restorations of the pool, and also participation in the Amador County Combined Narcotics Enforcement Taskforce.
The council in November transferred “$35,000 from the pool fund to the Police Department to offset the costs of the ACCNET positions, with the understanding that the council would revisit this by the end of February.” The actual cost to Sutter Creek for ACCNET was about $18,000 from December 2010 to June 30, he said.
Rabe said as a result of increased revenue, the city’s portion of the cost “does not need to come from the pool fund.” He said it was also possible the state would reimburse the city for costs associated with ACCNET.
Though increased revenue was “good news,” Rabe said “there is significant concern over a potential property tax reduction of $60,000.” The “issue is still not completely decided yet and involves issues with the Educational Revenue Augmentation Fund,” which “frankly puts Amador County in the unenviable position of being a test case for the state.”
“In terms of other revenues,” Rabe said “all other sources are hitting their targets or are performing better than anticipated.” Transient Occupancy Taxes are ahead of budget. He said some expenses are exceeding budgeted amounts, and a majority “stem from erroneous budgeting.” One example was no budgeting of fuel for Public Works vehicles. Other errors included under-budgeting police hours, and “an unrealistic budget assumption” in police overtime.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
