6.4. SR 11-24-1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

In 1998, the County is planning some additional changes in its management of waste disposal. The County may eliminate the $20 expense on the tax bill, but also may raise the tipping fee paid for waste disposal. This would make the city increase its rates in order to cover its total expenditures. However, nothing is final at this time and changes are only in the discussion stages. Accordingly, the 1998 Garbage Collection budget is somewhat uncertain. Staff has included a slight increase in solid waste charges, but has included no rate increase to the customers. Therefore, staff is proposing the use of reserves that have been built up over the past few years due to penalties to balance the budget and will recommend adjustments in customer charges as more information from the County becomes available. 1998 marks a new beginning for the Municipal Liquor Store operation. In late 1997, the new and larger Northbound store began operation at the northeast corner of Highway 169 and 193rd Avenue. All of the expenditures for this construction project were outside of the annual liquor store budget, so this project will not skew the comparisons between the 1998 and 1997 liquor store budgets. However, there are a number of significant changes in the budgets between 1997 and 1998. One of these major changes in the budgets is in the capital outlay category. In 1997, this category included $375,000 for the purchase of land for a future Westbound Liquor store. This expenditure took place and no similar expenditure of funds for land is projected for 1998. One expenditure in the 1998 budget that was not in the 1997 budget is the $173,000 for debt service for the new liquor store. This new debt service expenditure slightly offsets the capital outlay expenditure for land that was in the 1997 budget. Due to the larger store being in operation in 1998, there are additional personal services needed in comparison with 1997 to operate the store. Additionally, the depreciation line item has significantly increased from $23,000 in 1997 to $52,000 in 1998. Included in the expenses for the liquor store is the continuation of the liquor store transfer to the general fund in order to help keep taxes low. Over $95,000 in transfers is dedicated to this purpose while the balance of the transfers go toward retiring the debt for City Hall. This amount dedicated toward City Hall debt has decreased in 1998 due to the refinancing of the City Hall bonds. Typically the WWTS budget receives sufficient operating revenues to meet its operating expenses. Based on budget estimates, this may not be the case in 1998 and reserves will be required in order to meet the total obligations of the WWTS. Operating revenues from the rate payers combined with sewer connection charges and use of reserves in 1998 will finance the plant operation, the debt on the 1994 and 1996 plant expansion projects, and provide for depreciation funding. Expansion projects in excess of $5,000,000 were undertaken in 1994 and in 1996.