LAKEPORT — The Lakeport City Council adopted the final 2012-13 fiscal year budget during its meeting Tuesday night at City Hall.
All four council members present voted in favor of adoption. Councilman Bob Rumfelt was absent.
City staff used priority-based budgeting in order to “match the limited, reduced resources we project in 2013 with the highest priorities of City staff and the Council,” City Manager Margaret Silveira wrote in a memo to council members.
The budget estimates almost $11.84 million in revenues across all city funds for the upcoming fiscal year.
Sales tax revenues are trending positively while property tax revenues, and franchise, permit and other fees are expected to stay essentially flat, according to Silveira.
The city appropriated nearly $13.59 million for spending next year — a total that includes bond proceeds and other funds received in prior fiscal years, Finance Director Dan Buffalo said.
Salaries and benefits account for nearly one-third of expenditures by city departments. Silveira recommended that employee furloughs continue next year.
The city”s general fund remains balanced, with estimated revenues and expenditures being equal at about $4.53 million.
Taxes account for nearly 70 percent of general fund revenues estimated for next year. Salaries and benefits represent 57 percent and operational costs another 35 percent of the anticipated general fund expenditures.
The city”s water and sewer activities “continue to experience increased costs and revenues that fall short of covering them,” Silveira wrote in the memo. City staff plans to discuss the current rate structure for both enterprises with the council at a later time, she added.
The adopted budget will be available on the city”s website at the end of the month, Buffalo said.
In other business Tuesday, the council voted 3-1 to introduce an ordinance to provide support for the Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) television station, Channel 8, through a 1-percent pass-through to Mediacom cable subscribers.
Councilman Roy Parmentier dissented. The second reading of the proposed ordinance is set for July 17.
The four council members voted unanimously to adopt a resolution of intention to amend the contract between the city and the Board of Administration of the California Public Employees” Retirement System (CalPERS) pertaining to the benefit formula for sworn police officers.
The resolution is the first in a series of steps necessary to amend the contract, and costs associated with the change will be discussed at a future council meeting, Silveira said.
The council voted to reappoint Tom Gayner to the Lakeport Planning Commission.
There won”t be a regular council meeting on July 3 because of Independence Day.
