While other cities, states, and the federal government are drowning in a tsunami of red ink, the City of Seadrift is living within its budget, even showing a surplus for the Oct. 1, 2010 to Sept. 30, 2011 fiscal year. At the latest City Council meeting on Oct. 4, Mayor Elmer DeForest submitted amended budgets to the City Council for approval and happily reported the statistics for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011. The amended 2010 – 2011 budgets were approved by City Council with the following surplus:
Harbor Fund Surplus of $ 8,922.37
Hotel/Motel Surplus of $ 3,362.43
Utilities Surplus of $54,305.93
General Fund Surplus of $ 7,744.11
The Surplus in the Utilities Department were partially the result of increased revenues from water bills due to heavier than normal usage during the drought and fees collected from 14 water taps (up from the usual average of 5 per year) and 9 sewer taps (up from the estimated average of 5).
The General Fund, whose primary source of revenue is from property taxes is received mostly during the October – March period and supplemented by sales taxes, and miscellaneous permit fees throughout the year. Franchise taxes are usually received in the January to March period. With the bulk of operating revenue received in the October – March period the City must carefully consider expenditures during the April to September period to prevent shortfalls. In the 2009-2010 fiscal year, the General Fund was in the red and reserve funds were utilized to continue operating. In August 2011, Mayor DeForest froze all discretionary spending with additional levels of approval needed for spending, which was undoubtedly a major factor for Seadrift ending this fiscal year in the black.
The budget for fiscal year 2011-2012 will remain essentially the same as last year’s, except for a one and a half percent raise for employees. The budget surplus will be kept in reserve to cover any shortfalls or unexpected essential needs that may occur.
News of current projects of the Utilities Department was also good. Engineer, David Sheblak, for the Texas Department of Agriculture-Community Development Block Grants that help the City replace and upgrade existing water/wastewater lines reported that the 2010-2011 line replacement project is ahead of schedule and slightly under budget, and should be completed in December. Plus, an additional 2011-2012 TDA-CDBG grant for water/wastewater line replacement has been awarded and should begin by mid to late spring.
Of note is the final approval and contract signing for the wastewater Wind Turbine to generate electricity to supplement the electricity usage at the wastewater plant. People in town should begin to see the rise of the turbine tower by mid to late December 2011 with commissioning to be completed by early January 2012. Jody Weaver of G&W Engineering is the engineer for this State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) project funded mostly by a stimulus grant. Additional funds will come from the TDA-CDBG Program.
Good news for residents and tourists, alike, is that the long awaited pier will soon become a reality through a CIAP grant acquired and administered by Calhoun Commissioner’s Court. Construction could begin as early as January or February 2012. The 300 ft. pier with a 50 ft. T-Head will be constructed at A.D. Powers Bay Front Park, near the pavilion. It was permitted in 2009 by the Corps of Engineers using Urban Engineering who did the preliminary engineering and permit application.
The City’s Pier Fund, approximately $17,900, will be used to supplement the pier’s on-going maintenance. The Pier fund has accrued from private donations over the years with the primary donor being the Seadrift Chamber of Commerce. The City is also beginning to budget funds annually for on-going maintenance and repair.
