Council Holds Budget Meeting For Fiscal Year 2019
The City of Sullivan is currently working on its 2019 fiscal year budget set to take effect on Oct. 1, 2018 with a special meeting that was held on Tuesday, July 31.
Several capital improvement projects were discussed along with the retirement of two bond issues that are scheduled for conclusion in 2019.
Sullivan City Administrator J.T. Hardy led off the meeting by reporting to the council that sales tax had rallied a bit in 2018 with the general fund currently showing $230,552 with just under two months remaining in the current budget.
Hardy reported that some capital improvement projects in 2018 were rolled over into Fiscal Year 2019 and that there has been vandalism to some of the automatic meter readers in the city. Hardy requested the council take legal action to recoup these damage expenses and the council agreed.
Under proposed Capital Improvements for the Fiscal Year 2019, the Sullivan Parks Department is looking to provide improvements to: “Sunny” Jim Bottomley Park, $27,000; skating rink exterior painting, $21,000; Vogelsang Trail Head, $60,000; North Side Trail $150,000; Splash Park restroom, $30,00; Sullivan Police Department: two new squad vehicles, $87,000; Ceiling tile and floor replacement, $7,500; Firearms range berm and expansion, $10,000; Parking lot resurfacing and improvements, $50,000; Street Department: Airport fuel card reader, $16,000; Sappington Bridge sidewalks and drainage study, $50,000 and Fisher Sidewalk improvements, $17,000.
The proposed Fiscal Year 2019 Capital Improvements total $525,500 with revenue projected at $700,000.
Overall, the proposed Fiscal Year 2019 estimated revenue is projected at $22,399,625 with expenditures at $22,235,525.
Hardy is proposing a 3 percent step increase for all city employees and with the passing of Proposition P in Franklin County the Sullivan Police Department is projected to receive a portion of the funds which will provide a pay increase across the board to staff.
Hardy reported to the council that the 2019 fiscal year budget for the electric department will once again see no cost increases for electric users. Each year the electric fund has a 3 percent automatic increase, however for several years the city electric department has been able to meet its needs and not require the increase.
Under water and sewer fund, Hardy was able to report to the council the 1999A Series bonds for Sullivan Heights Sewer Project and 2011 Series bonds for water well, tower and sewer will be paid off in 2019.
The Sullivan Independent News will have more on the proposed Fiscal Year 2019 budget as the budget nears final preparations for approval during the September 2018 meeting of the Sullivan City council.