Brownsboro budget changes
By Nathan Straus News Reporter

During the January 10 Brownsboro City Council meeting the council voted to allow a host of midyear budget adjustments. The adjustments, made during the 5 pm meeting, cover city expenditures such as new personnel and repairs necessary due to bad weather.

General Fund

- Street repair, put at a budget of $30,631 for 2007- 2008, was originally given a $5,000 excess. The excess was used to repair a bridge wash out.

- Office supplies jumped from $3,600 to $5,500. The city will buy more folders for the police department and will purchase a tax roll book.

- Electricity rose from $24,500 to $28,000, but Brownsboro Mayor Ronny Harris said the actual money needed may be less because the city has switched to Stream to provide electricity.

- Gas and oil bumped up $1,000 from $12,000 due to reserve cost.

- The equipment repair budget fell from $6,500 to $5,000 thanks to the purchase of newer vehicles.

- Miscellaneous more than doubled, $3,000 to $7,500, after the city used $6,000 to repair City Hall.

- The garbage contract saw a slight increase. It used to be $26,000, but rose by $500.

- The "Patrolmen" segment increased from $27,497 to $27,797. The reason is one of the ser- geants in the police force has not been receiving sergeant level pay. The increase signifies the remedy to this situation.

- Worker 's comp went from $8,200 to $9,200 because reserve officers were put on it.

- However, the reserve officers were "reduced". The temporary police expenditure dropped from $2,500 to $1,500.

- Building inspection and assistant court clerk were two of the new items. These new expenses are $5,000 and $6,720, respectively.

The general fund's total has been changed from $369,180 to $390,600, an increase of $21,420.

Revenue

- Miscellaneous dropped to $4,000 from $5,000 due to permits to other line items.

- Advalorem tax hit $80,000 from $79,680.

- Another slight increase, city sales tax went from $82,000 to $83,000.

- A heftier jump, fines and fees rose to $124,950 from $110,000. The additional money was added to balance the budget.

- Building permits appeared again on revenue as a new item. A sum of $6,000 is expected.

- Also new, garage sale permits are expected to fetch $150.

The revenue account total reflects the general fund. The reserve account is $118,006 with the recommended being $97,650.

Water/Sewer expenditures

- Audit took an increase of $200 to result in $5,000.

- Lab service had a similar increase, totaling $2,600.

- Electricity jumped to $44,500 from $44,000.

- Supplies rose $10,000 to $40,000 from $30,000 due to additional expenses from the summer flooding.

- Gas and oil also increased by $200, making the new total $6,700. This is also because of the flooding.

- Miscellaneous hit $28,056 from $25,656.

- New equipment took a large rise from $15,000 to $35,000, mainly due to a jet machine, carport and new pump and motor system.

Water/Sewer revenue

- Sewer took a mild increase from $101,000 to $102,000.

- FEMA reimbursement after the flooding resulted in an estimated payment of $32,500.

Harris said the city will be able to revert back to the original numbers next year.

After running through city finances, the council was made aware of Atmos Energy's new deadline of February 15. The deadline marks the date when surrounding cities and Atmos will enact an agreement to settle the rate case. The settlement will be submitted to the city council during the next council meeting.