Published: June 03, 2008 11:12 pm         

Balancing the books

City approves 2008-2009 budget after few changes

Enid city commissioners Tuesday approved a $114 million budget for fiscal year 2008-09 with some minor changes to what had been discussed at earlier hearings.

City Manager Eric Benson told commissioners he would like to defer a $160,000 proposal to purchase an emergency generator for the city hall building, but reserve half that amount for information technology upgrades at city hall.

Julie Baird, executive director of Leonardo’s and AdventureQuest, asked the commission for an additional $10,000 so Leonardo’s can continue to participate in a statewide network of museums that share exhibits. Mayor John Criner opposed the increase and questioned Baird closely about Leonardo’s budget.

Ward 5 Commissioner Daron Rudy offered an amendment to the budget, reserving $80,000 for city information technology upgrades; adding $150,000 to a fund for paving unpaved roads to bring that total to $250,000; increasing Leonardo’s appropriations by $11,000; and giving Enid Kiwanis Club $10,000 for improvements at Meadowlake Park. The motion was seconded by Ward 2 Commissioner Don Rose and approved with Criner dissenting.

Rudy also said Oklahoma Natural Gas Co. funding to the city increased by $25,000 this year, bringing the total to $700,000.

The budget approved saved the city about $60,000, Rudy said.

The 2008-09 fiscal year begins July 1.

The budget, as presented to commissioners at a May 20 meeting called for $114,167,203 in spending and left agencies such as PEGASYS, Main Street Enid and Leonardo’s Discovery Warehouse with the same amount of funding as the current fiscal year. Commissioners had made substantial cuts to some agencies last year.

The city also approved some end-of-year fund transfers from the 2007-08 budget. Those changes included:

• Appropriating $500,000 from the general fund to the police and fire funds due to higher-than-budgeted expenses.

• Appropriating another $300,000 from the general fund to Enid Municipal Authority due to higher-than-budgeted revenues. EMA receives 1 percent of city sales tax revenue to pay debt. Sales tax revenue was greater than budgeted and funds need to be appropriated, according to memo in the city commission agenda.

• Appropriating $25,000 to Enid Public Transportation Authority due to increased fuel costs.

Commissioners also approved the final plat for Willow West 4th Subdivision; Chisholm Creek Village blocks 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14; and Hearthstone Farms final plat for block two.