Officials consider resolution to OK budget proposal

Shawnee residents can see how their sales tax money will be spent during the 2008-09 fiscal year at 6:30 p.m. Monday at city hall as commissioners consider a resolution that will approve the budget proposal.
The proposed budget that commissioners will consider Monday night will include a few changes from what City Manager Jim Collard originally presented to the commission in mid-April.
The proposal will include the transfer of funds from the capital improvement fund to the economic development fund for the Shawnee Economic Development Foundation. The original plan was to reallocate the third penny sales tax percentages to have the additional funding from the streets fund, but Collard strayed from the plan to reallocate funds to keep all the money allocated to streets in streets.
The city plans to transfer $100,000 to the economic development fund to support the request of $96,000 from SEDF. The money will be additional funds to the $100,000 the foundation receives each year from the city.
In the May 19 meeting, commissioners expressed concern about taking all of the funding away from wayfinding, so Collard found a compromise. In his memo to commissioners, Collard said instead of eliminating all the funding for the wayfinding project, the city will take $20,000 from the municipal courtroom renovations project and put it toward the wayfinding project. The renovations project will have $5,000 in the 2008-09 budget. The wayfinding and renovation projects are in the capital improvement fund.
If the city decides to proceed with the retail analysis project, the funding most likely will come from ending fund balances in the economic development fund. Collard has said the purpose of the analysis will be address gaps in Shawnee’s retail opportunities, and the analysis will allow the city to locate businesses that are needed in the community. The estimated cost for the analysis is $70,000.
Other changes to the proposal are in the streets improvement fund and the Shawnee Municipal Authority fund.
The street improvement fund will see a lower beginning fund balance for the 2008-09 budget. In his memo, Collard said budget amendment, which is on Monday’s agenda, will appropriate $231,000 of the fund balances to meet the additional costs of three street projects that are in the 2007-08 budget. The amendment decreases beginning fund balances by $231,000.
The Shawnee Municipal Authority proposed budget will see an 8-percent increase in revenue as commissioners approved to increase water and sewer rates, resulting in revenue increase of $508,000. The proposal is to use $208,708 for improvement projects, and the remaining $199,571 increasing fund balances.
In other business, the commission will consider an ordinance to amend regulations and requirements at Shawnee Twin Lakes relating to fishing and licenses, hunting and licenses, watercraft operation and licenses and camping duration.
———
Amanda Gire may be reached at amanda.gire@news-star.com or at 214-3934.