News
City funds afloat in tough time
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
January revenues are down $185,000 from 2008, according to City Finance Director Jim Cox, who spoke about the state of the economy at the Monday night City Council meeting.
However, revenues in the current fiscal year are up $203,000, primarily due to $243,000 in grant funding, Cox said.
To make up for the lagging economy, Cox said spending continues to be cut, with expenditures down $112,000 from last year at this time.
All utility fund revenues exceed expenditures, meaning the city continues to stay afloat in hard economic times, Cox said.
In other business, the council approved an economic development strategic plan. The 17-page document was created by a committee formed last year. Councilman John Lodzinski led the committee, and spoke on the finished product Monday night.
"This is a good description of Benson; it has all the things we thought would be major draws," he said. "We don't want to make this a report that sits on a shelf and looks nice. We want to put it into action."
With the council's approval, Lodzinski said the subcommittee will meet every two months and the approved plan will appear on the city Web site, and be published and distributed throughout the community.
In other business, the council approved the creation of a hiring committee for a new city attorney. With current City Attorney Thomas Benavidez opting not to renew his contract, the city will review 11 applications.
The committee will consist of council members Lodzinski, Jo Deen Boncquet and Al Sacco, a member of the community yet to be named, and City Clerk Vicki Vivian.
The council will make the final hiring decision.
In other business, the council gave unanimous approval for Fire Chief Keith Spangler to apply for up to $20,000 in grant funding. If Spangler is approved for both the $10,000 grants, the city will be responsible for $6,000 of the funds.
In personnel matters, the council approved what Interim City Manager Glenn Nichols called housekeeping - a resolution to keep Public Works Director Brad Hamilton on as the city engineer.
Hamilton has been serving in that capacity since he was hired. Nichols said the city records needed to be updated with council approval.
January revenues are down $185,000 from 2008, according to City Finance Director Jim Cox, who spoke about the state of the economy at the Monday night City Council meeting.
However, revenues in the current fiscal year are up $203,000, primarily due to $243,000 in grant funding, Cox said.
To make up for the lagging economy, Cox said spending continues to be cut, with expenditures down $112,000 from last year at this time.
All utility fund revenues exceed expenditures, meaning the city continues to stay afloat in hard economic times, Cox said.
In other business, the council approved an economic development strategic plan. The 17-page document was created by a committee formed last year. Councilman John Lodzinski led the committee, and spoke on the finished product Monday night.
"This is a good description of Benson; it has all the things we thought would be major draws," he said. "We don't want to make this a report that sits on a shelf and looks nice. We want to put it into action."
With the council's approval, Lodzinski said the subcommittee will meet every two months and the approved plan will appear on the city Web site, and be published and distributed throughout the community.
In other business, the council approved the creation of a hiring committee for a new city attorney. With current City Attorney Thomas Benavidez opting not to renew his contract, the city will review 11 applications.
The committee will consist of council members Lodzinski, Jo Deen Boncquet and Al Sacco, a member of the community yet to be named, and City Clerk Vicki Vivian.
The council will make the final hiring decision.
In other business, the council gave unanimous approval for Fire Chief Keith Spangler to apply for up to $20,000 in grant funding. If Spangler is approved for both the $10,000 grants, the city will be responsible for $6,000 of the funds.
In personnel matters, the council approved what Interim City Manager Glenn Nichols called housekeeping - a resolution to keep Public Works Director Brad Hamilton on as the city engineer.
Hamilton has been serving in that capacity since he was hired. Nichols said the city records needed to be updated with council approval.
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