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Tentative budget approved
Thelma Grimes/San Pero Valley News-Sun
With little discussion, the Benson City Council approved the $17.9 million tentative budget in a rescheduled special meeting last Tuesday.The council has held several work sessions to discuss the 2009-2010 budget, which has few changes from the current year, and will be about $700,000 less.
Council will hold a public hearing on June 18 as required by law. After hearing public comment, the council is expected to approve the final version of the budget on June 22. Finance Director Jim Cox said this date of approval is good for the city in order to have a budget in place prior to the start of the fiscal year, which begins July 1.
After the last work session where the council thoroughly examined every section of the budget, Cox said he made changes requested for the tentative budget.
The tentative budget was approved in a 5-0 vote with Councilwoman Lori McGoffin abstaining, and Councilwoman Jo Deen Boncquet absent. It reflected changes requested.
McGoffin abstained, noting that her husband, Troy McGoffin, is an employee of the city.
As per council orders, Cox added $5,000 to the library budget to give them $35,000 for new book purchases next year.
More money was also added for hiring outside services. The building department received an additional $12,000 and the public works office will get $25,000 in the coming year.
The two departments have come to rely on outside services with the loss of several employees over the last year. The City has not hired a new building official, and the planning and zoning director's position remains vacant.
Another $50,000 was added to the budget for the asbestos removal at the old City Hall building on Huachuca Street. Public Works Director Brad Hamilton has said after the asbestos is removed, city crews can demolish the building and leave the property vacant to provide extra parking downtown.
Keeping up with the city's financial well-being, Cox gave an update for the month of April.
Cox said April showed a lot of the same as the past few months, but noted that the city is staying afloat in the tough economy.
In the next 60 days, Cox said the city will pay more than $600,000 in debt payments, but noted they should make budget by June 30, which marks the end of the current fiscal year.
In other business, the council approved a donation to keep seniors safe on graduation night. Assisting parents of graduating seniors at Benson High School, the council generously donated $1,000 to help fund an all-night party held after Thursday's ceremonies.
Charlotte Taylor, one of the event organizers, said they wanted to host a party to keep seniors safe after graduation, opening gymnasium doors after the ceremony, and keeping seniors in until 5 a.m.
All seniors and a guest for each were invited. Taylor said they expected about 100 students to attend.
The organizers also received about $2,000 from community donations.
In other business, the council approved a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Marshal's Service for joint cooperation in the arrest of fugitives.
Interim Police Chief Paul Moncada said it will not cost the city anything, and the agreement is a benefit to the city because the police department would be able to use the Marshal's resources as needed. The measure carried unanimously.
In a 5-1 vote, the council voted to rescind a resolution that was approved by council to adopt the Arizona Department of Transportation/City of Benson State Route 90 conceptual right-of-way and roadway plan.
Hamilton said the state has since finished a highway plan that is a lot more detailed and would benefit the city more. By rescinding the resolution, Hamilton said it would make the old plan obsolete and allow the city to use the state's plans.
Councilman Al Sacco voted against the measure, stating he wanted to see the state's manual first. Hamilton and other council members agreed it would be more in depth and detailed than the current plan created by the city.
Continuing annual payments to Wal-Mart as per the development agreement approved by the council several years ago, Cox received approval to move the due date for the $250,000 fee.
Cox said in the past few years the payment to Wal-Mart was due in December, which is one of the city's slowest months. With the retail giant's approval, Cox said the payment will now be moved to one of the better months in the year to ease the burden on the city.
Moving forward with the expansion at the Benson Municipal Airport, the council unanimously approved a lease agreement with resident Clifford Deane during the meeting.
The 40-year agreement will allow Deane to build a private hangar in accordance with the airport development plan. Deane was the only one to respond to the city's request for proposals to build aircraft hangar pads.
The request was published in the San Pedro Valley News-Sun, the Daily Territorial and the City of Benson Web site.
For the exclusive use of the unimproved hanger area, which consists of 2,000 square feet, the lease rate is 15 cents a square foot, or $300 a year.
With little discussion, the Benson City Council approved the $17.9 million tentative budget in a rescheduled special meeting last Tuesday.The council has held several work sessions to discuss the 2009-2010 budget, which has few changes from the current year, and will be about $700,000 less.
Council will hold a public hearing on June 18 as required by law. After hearing public comment, the council is expected to approve the final version of the budget on June 22. Finance Director Jim Cox said this date of approval is good for the city in order to have a budget in place prior to the start of the fiscal year, which begins July 1.
After the last work session where the council thoroughly examined every section of the budget, Cox said he made changes requested for the tentative budget.
The tentative budget was approved in a 5-0 vote with Councilwoman Lori McGoffin abstaining, and Councilwoman Jo Deen Boncquet absent. It reflected changes requested.
McGoffin abstained, noting that her husband, Troy McGoffin, is an employee of the city.
As per council orders, Cox added $5,000 to the library budget to give them $35,000 for new book purchases next year.
More money was also added for hiring outside services. The building department received an additional $12,000 and the public works office will get $25,000 in the coming year.
The two departments have come to rely on outside services with the loss of several employees over the last year. The City has not hired a new building official, and the planning and zoning director's position remains vacant.
Another $50,000 was added to the budget for the asbestos removal at the old City Hall building on Huachuca Street. Public Works Director Brad Hamilton has said after the asbestos is removed, city crews can demolish the building and leave the property vacant to provide extra parking downtown.
Keeping up with the city's financial well-being, Cox gave an update for the month of April.
Cox said April showed a lot of the same as the past few months, but noted that the city is staying afloat in the tough economy.
In the next 60 days, Cox said the city will pay more than $600,000 in debt payments, but noted they should make budget by June 30, which marks the end of the current fiscal year.
In other business, the council approved a donation to keep seniors safe on graduation night. Assisting parents of graduating seniors at Benson High School, the council generously donated $1,000 to help fund an all-night party held after Thursday's ceremonies.
Charlotte Taylor, one of the event organizers, said they wanted to host a party to keep seniors safe after graduation, opening gymnasium doors after the ceremony, and keeping seniors in until 5 a.m.
All seniors and a guest for each were invited. Taylor said they expected about 100 students to attend.
The organizers also received about $2,000 from community donations.
In other business, the council approved a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Marshal's Service for joint cooperation in the arrest of fugitives.
Interim Police Chief Paul Moncada said it will not cost the city anything, and the agreement is a benefit to the city because the police department would be able to use the Marshal's resources as needed. The measure carried unanimously.
In a 5-1 vote, the council voted to rescind a resolution that was approved by council to adopt the Arizona Department of Transportation/City of Benson State Route 90 conceptual right-of-way and roadway plan.
Hamilton said the state has since finished a highway plan that is a lot more detailed and would benefit the city more. By rescinding the resolution, Hamilton said it would make the old plan obsolete and allow the city to use the state's plans.
Councilman Al Sacco voted against the measure, stating he wanted to see the state's manual first. Hamilton and other council members agreed it would be more in depth and detailed than the current plan created by the city.
Continuing annual payments to Wal-Mart as per the development agreement approved by the council several years ago, Cox received approval to move the due date for the $250,000 fee.
Cox said in the past few years the payment to Wal-Mart was due in December, which is one of the city's slowest months. With the retail giant's approval, Cox said the payment will now be moved to one of the better months in the year to ease the burden on the city.
Moving forward with the expansion at the Benson Municipal Airport, the council unanimously approved a lease agreement with resident Clifford Deane during the meeting.
The 40-year agreement will allow Deane to build a private hangar in accordance with the airport development plan. Deane was the only one to respond to the city's request for proposals to build aircraft hangar pads.
The request was published in the San Pedro Valley News-Sun, the Daily Territorial and the City of Benson Web site.
For the exclusive use of the unimproved hanger area, which consists of 2,000 square feet, the lease rate is 15 cents a square foot, or $300 a year.
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