According to a memo from Finance Director Terri St. James, the preliminary budget was taken up by the council Aug. 13, and the document approved Thursday was an updated version of this.
“Revenue (is) projected at level for the most part,” she said. “Non-recurring revenue (including) disaster relief, state paving reimbursement and transfers in from the Oil Trust Fund are all reduced to zero. Per the accounting change as previously discussed, transfers in from the water department are (also) reduced to zero.”
The memo goes on to say that “generally, expenditures (are) level or below the amended fiscal year 2012 budget. To achieve this, in light of flat revenues and increased personnel costs, total general fund expenditures have been reduced by $375,000 for fiscal year 2013. Normal step increases have been included for all departments. The cost of retirement benefits increased significantly, totaling approximately $94,000, which is entirely absorbed by the city. There is no increase in health insurance premiums this fiscal year.”
Lastly, she wrote, “This budget maintains the general fund 8 percent fund balance as well as the additional $250,000 escrow held from sales tax, both mandated by the council.” A projected $126,996 from the reserve will likely be needed to balance the budget.
The new budget projects total revenues of $13,800,970, down from an amended total of $14,380,564 from last year. Expenditures are estimated at $13,927,966, down from an adjusted total of $14,305,564.
The water department budget shows net operating revenue of $1,512,946, or 5 percent of overall revenue.
The budget passed Thursday does include appropriations to outside agencies, but these will be discussed further at a work session Monday at 5 p.m. The council will take up goal setting for the new fiscal year at the same meeting.
Also Thursday night, the council:
• Heard a presentation from District Attorney Steve Giddens, asking for level funding for the Talladega County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.
• Agreed to table demolition of two properties to allow the owner to submit proof that he has hired a licensed builder and has a plan to bring the properties up to code in 90 days. Councilman Jarvis Elston, in particular, said that “timelines are in place for a reason” and that it was time for the city to “move forward.”
• Announced the animal shelter will hold a pet adoption day at Tractor Supply Sept. 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Approved a streetlight request for Turner Street.
• Approved a consumer price index based increase for Veolia Environmental Services from $16.23 to $16.49.
• Amended the budget from last year to reflect actual revenue and expenditures.
• Accepted a $7,500 donation from the Pilgrimage Council to renovate the façade of a building on the square. They also approved a contract with Cal Munroe relating to the same project not to exceed $1,200.
• Approved a contract with Usrey Funeral Home to provide grave opening and closing services at Oak Hill Cemetery for $450 per grave.
• Approved a contract with Karma Construction of Birmingham for $61,952.50 to repave the parking lot at city hall. The project had been budgeted at $70,000. They also approved a contract for $2,500 with Neel-Schaffer for engineering and inspection of the same project.
• Approved the transfer of the Municipal Court and $0.04 Gas Tax fund to First National Bank.
• Renewed a contract with Alexander Construction for street patching at $6 and $8 per square foot.
• Renewed contracts with Express Oil Change, Jerald’s Alignment, Waites Tire and King Tire for vehicle maintenance.
• Renewed the contract with Talladega Machinery and Supply for restroom supplies.
• Approved a 1 cent per gallon CPI increase for Merrell Brothers for sludge removal at the city’s wastewater treatment plants.
• Renewed the contract with Armstrong Lawn Care for weed abatement.
• Renewed the contract with Evergreen Lawn Care to maintain the grounds at 29 water department facilities.
• Renewed a contract with Nohab Garing to perform computer maintenance and troubleshooting and to purchase new computers.
• Renewed a contract with Sullivan Pest Control for 16 city facilities at $18.95 per site.
• Approved a contract with Thompson Gas for $1.299 per gallon for propane.
• Approved contracts with R.K. Allen Oil and McPherson Oil for gasoline and oil.
• Approved a contract with A1 Tree Service.
• Approved contracts with Quill Corporation, Brannon’s Office City and LD Products for paper supplies.
• Approved contracts with Chermite, Leslie’s Pool Mart and Industrial Chemical for pool chemicals.
• Approved contracts with Industrial Chemicals, Harcross Chemicals, Key Chemicals, DPC Enterprises and F2 Industrials for water treatment supplies.
• Approved contracts with Waites Concrete and Webb Concrete.
• Approved contracts for janitorial supplies with JanPak, Talladega Machinery and Supply, Brannon’s Office City and J Supply Company.
• Approved contracts with ATC Graphics, Brown and Bigelow and G&K Services for uniforms.
• Approved contracts for stone and gravel with McCartney Construction and Webb Concrete.
• Approved a contract with Jim’s Concrete of Gadsden for cold mix.
• Approved contracts with Vulcan Signs, Custom Products and Traffic Signs for traffic signs.
• Approved contracts with Vellano Brothers, Empire Pipe and Supply Company, HD Supply Waterworks, Southern Pipe, Consolidate Pipe and Supply, G&C Pipe and Supply and MH and Valve for water construction supplies.
• Approved a contract with Verizon for cell phone service not to exceed $3,200 per month.
• Approved a contract with MFS Supply of Solon, Ohio for smoke detectors not to exceed $45,674 through a fire protection and safety grant.
• Heard Councilmen Joe Ballow and Ricky Simpson congratulate animal control on their renovated facility.
Contact Chris Norwood at cnorwood@dailyhome.com
