2010 Budget

[Don Haddix]

The first budget hearing is June 8th beginning 6:30PM in the Council Chambers. Attached is the initial proposed budget.

[BobSmith]

I may have overlooked it but, I cannot find a line item for the Revenues from the Storm Water Fees. I see proposed expenditures of $355k but, where is the revenue? I think many of us feel a little miffed by this fee as an underhanded increase in taxes. At the very least, we should have an accounting of the funds.

[Don Haddix]

I may have overlooked it but, I cannot find a line item for the Revenues from the Storm Water Fees. I see proposed expenditures of $355k but, where is the revenue? I think many of us feel a little miffed by this fee as an underhanded increase in taxes. At the very least, we should have an accounting of the funds.
Look at page 41 to begin that section.

Stormwater is an account to itself. Since it is a utility its funds cannot be spent on anything but stormwater.

The current billing rate was a kick off level, not the final level. It does not pull in enough money to fund all needed projects. We have several very important projects that will consume the whole stormwater annual budget by themselves.

It is not an underhanded way to tax. It is a State and Federally mandated program that has to be funded and has to perform at minimum levels. It is an essential and necessary entity to do a lot of infrastructure repairs that were left ignored for far too many years.

In years past when money was being sunk into popular programs this unpopular, but essential, program was ignored. EPA and other entities will not allow us to ignore it any longer.

We are no longer a young community. Stormwater pipes and systems that have a max life span 20-25 years have now been in the ground over 30 in some areas and are failing. We have flooding, non functional pipes and more to repair and areas where stormwater was never installed to begin with, or improperly installed.

No fee raise is currently approved. But that day will come and was known from the beginning of the utility.

[BobSmith]

I see it in that portion of the break-out. Why, then is there a $355k proposed expenditure in the front section of the budget? Is this the General fund? I guess that is where my confusion originates.

By underhanded tax- I mean that since it is a fee--we as the contributors cannot write it off as property tax. Am I wrong?

[Don Haddix]

I see it in that portion of the break-out. Why, then is there a $355k proposed expenditure in the front section of the budget? Is this the General fund? I guess that is where my confusion originates.
There is a summary at the beginning of the budget for incomes and expenditures followed by individual section by Department and function.

That expenditure is from the stormwater fees, as shown in the stormwater section.

By underhanded tax- I mean that since it is a fee--we as the contributors cannot write it off as property tax. Am I wrong?
You are right. Because it isn't property tax. It is a utility, like WASA, Scana, Georgia Power, etc.

There are some cities that own all of the above utilities and some like us have a split between public and private providers.