City council approves 2018 Decatur budget

DECATUR -- The Decatur City Council opened its first regular meeting of the new year Jan. 8 in the conference room at Decatur City Hall with the approval of the 2018 city, street, water and sewer budget.

Decatur Mayor Bob Tharp reviewed each department's proposed budget which was drawn up late in November of 2017. The fiscal year runs from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. Tharp started with the 2018 city income of $1,290,142 which, when broken down by departments, included $391,400 -- administration, $534,767 -- police, $220,000 -- fire, $100,050 -- parks and $43,925 -- library.

A few areas where the city expects to take in revenue included $355,000 in county property tax, $175,000 in city sales tax, and various library, parks, fire and police grants. The city expenditures will equal that of the revenues at $1,290,142 for the fiscal year 2018.

The street and the water/wastewater departments budgets are separate from the city's. The income and expenditures for the street department will equal $480,450 this year. Some of the areas where the street department will gain its income included $26,000 in city sales tax, $150,000 in bridges and sidewalk grants, and $15,000 in highway improvements. The expenditures for this department will include $210,000 in construction costs, $20,000 in materials and $160,000 in sidewalks.

On the water/wastewater side, the income and expenditures will be $5,016,810 for 2018. The biggest source of income for this department will be sewer sales of $1,890,000, which includes waste from Simmons Foods and other industrial users, $975,000 in sewer sales from the city of Centerton and $1,800,000 in water sales. Two of the biggest expenditures for this department will include $800,000 for the purchase of water from the Benton-Washington Regional Public Water Authority and $1,500,000 in bond transfers.

The city council voted to approve the 2018 budget.

In other council business:

• The council approved the 2018 Gravette Ambulance Contract. The city of Decatur agreed to pay the city of Gravette $35,000 for ambulance services which expire Dec. 31. The city will make quarterly payments to Gravette beginning March 15.

• The council approved, on the third reading, the Iva Jane Peek Public Library board of trustees amendment to ordinance 93-08 which established the fourth Monday of January, April, July and October, at 7 p.m., as regularly scheduled meeting dates for the board.

• The council approved the District Court of Benton County West 2018 budget. The city of Decatur will pay into the court's budget $34,500 this year.

The Decatur City Council meets on the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m. in the conference room at Decatur City Hall. The first thirty minutes of each meeting are open to for public comments and concerns by citizens of Decatur. For more information, contact the city clerk's office at 479-752-3912.

General News on 01/25/2018