Improvements to the fitness center, a new bathroom at Bluejacket Park, a new elementary school resource officer and increases to water rates were some of the items discussed at Thursday’s city budget meeting.
The City Commission met to review the $18.5 million recommended 2024 budget, which is an increase of 8.52% from 2023. Revenues are estimated at $17.7 million, or 10.8% more than last year. Carryover funds from previous fund balances make up the remaining budget.
The budget broke down several priorities for next year, including economic development, parks and recreation, expanding city services, infrastructure, communication and community engagement.
The city is not proposing a property or sales tax increase for 2024. However, it is looking at increasing water rates by 5%, wastewater by 7% and electricity by 3%, which it says is needed to maintain its current service level in utilities.
The budget document notes the city will conduct rate studies for stormwater, wastewater, water and electricity in 2024 to assess the current rates and evaluate the financial implications of the city’s impending growth and necessary infrastructure investments.
Investing in wastewater treatment plant enhancements, electric infrastructure upgrades, water loop construction, stormwater improvements and the rate studies will help ensure reliability of services and address future growth, the document said.
City staff also noted they made it a priority to focus on maintaining competitive pay to keep their existing staff in Eudora.
Other major projects recommended in the budget are:
Economic development:
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Continued progress on a future youth sports and entertainment arena
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Intech Business Park infrastructure
Parks and Recreation:
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Parks and Rec master plan phase 1
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Outdoor restrooms at Bluejacket Park
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Fitness room enhancements
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Expanding the Parks and Rec programmer to a full-time position
Infrastructure:
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Hunters Ridge electric
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Wastewater treatment plant bar screen
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Rotary mower for clearing right of ways and storm drainage
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Utility infrastructure investments i.e. preparing for water treatment plant now so it doesn’t hit the budget all at once
Communication and community engagement:
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Fire department strategic plan
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Parks and Rec master plan
Expanding city services:
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School resource officer implementation at elementary school and the purchase of ballistic shields for school officers
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Cemetery storm sewer improvement to expand cemetery and better the existing lots
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New brush fire/EMS response vehicle for fire department
The sports arena will require some upfront costs since the city is the master developer of the project at this point, Gero said.
“What you will notice in this budget is that in order for us to fund that STAR bond, or the sports entertainment-anchored development piece for next year, we are postponing the pavement management program for this year,” she said.
New equipment and updates to the community center were some of the ideas discussed at the budget retreat that made it to the recommended budget.
“[We are] making sure that we are continuing to dedicate funds to the fitness room,” Gero said.
The current brush/EMS vehicle has been in service for two decades, but Fire Chief Mindy Andrasevits said with evolving fire services in thecommunity, there is a need for a new multipurpose vehicle. The current brush truck has evolved into not only that but the first out EMS response vehicle.
“If we can keep our costs down, we’d like to keep this and take the EMS equipment off and put it back to its intended purpose,” Andrasevits said. “That way, we have that available for brush fires out in the county and aid to our mutual aid partners and still have brush truck EMS capabilities to remain in town to protect people.”
Commissioners then moved on to discussion of a hearing on the revenue neutral rate and budget motion set for Aug. 18.
The proposed mill levy is flat but does exceed the revenue neutral rate, or the rate needed to collect the same dollar amount of property tax as last year using this tax year’s assessed valuation.
The commission voted to exceed the revenue neutral rate, but not increase the current mill levy.
Commissioners did discuss the possibility of not exceeding the rate, but voted to exceed it to provide necessary budget items to city services.
Commissioner Roberta Lehmann asked Gero what she recommended regarding the rate change.
“We run very lean, and I’m very concerned that if we cut structural we will not be able to provide the service level,” Gero said. “The small enhancements, like an SRO [school resource officer] position, were probably considered deferred maintenance.”
With the proposed budget, Gero said the city did not have to cut any city services and was able to make slight enhancements. In order to not exceed the rate, the city would have to alter the budget without cutting one-time expenses.
“I’m very proud of our staff. We were able to maintain our services. There are no cuts to the services,” Gero said.
The city said it is necessary to exceed the rate due to an increase of about 10% in the city’s assessed value. The city also estimates a slight increase in sales and use tax collections. Since the city intends to exceed its revenue neutral rate, it will have to notify the county.
Per Mayor Tim Reazin’s request, the city will prepare data on how the revenue neutral rate being exceeded will affect the average Eudora homeowner.
“I think that information should be shared,” Reazin said. “So just to break that down because I don’t see it shared anywhere regularly, and it’s hard but I’d rather have the information out.”
With future growth and tax diversity, there will be more funds eventually to cover more things for services like public works, police and fire, he said.
Requests from departments were more focused on needs than wants with this cycle, Reazin said. He hopes the planning done by the city will pay off and help with Panasonic’s pending arrival.
“I think there’s an opportunity for diversifying taxes and a chance to grow and with that comes maybe a little bit of relief in what we’re doing everyday,” Reazin said.
Reach reporter Sara Maloney at [email protected].
The city met to vote on the 2024 revenue neutral rate and discussed budget priorities including the sports complex, fitness room improvements and a new fire response vehicle. See full story at https://www.eudoratimes.newsnirvana.com/government/city-discusses-budget-priorities-for-coming-year/article_1ee77dae-228e-11ee-a115-3fae95dc82ef.html
