Fort Scott City Commission adopts budget

With little discussion and no comments from the public, the Fort Scott City Commission approved adoption of the 2014 city budget Tuesday evening.

Last month, commissioners conducted a work session in which they poured through the city's budget, discussed assessed valuations, revenue and expenses, the mill levy and other financial matters. The commission approved publication of the budget at that meeting and set Tuesday as the date for a public hearing on the budget.

The 2014 budget reflects the same mill levy - 48.883 mills - as the 2013 budget and also shows a decrease in assessed valuations and other changes in various expenditures.

"It will be quite challenging, but I feel we can go another year without a mill levy increase," Director of Finance Jon Garrison said during the Tuesday meeting.

Mayor Cindy Bartelsmeyer said she was proud of city administrators and staff for their efforts to monitor city funds and continuously look for ways to save money throughout the last year.

With costs in some areas increasing, city leaders had to reduce expenses in other areas in order to balance the budget and keep the same mill levy, officials said.

The budget also includes a 2-percent increase in pay for city employees and a 3-percent increase in utility rates.

Related to the budget, the commission also approved an additional contribution of $21 per month per city-insured employee to maintain the city's grandfather status with the Greenbush Trust. This will total about $17,136 annually and is budgeted. This will begin in September when the insurance is renewed annually, a city document said.

Garrison said it will increase the city's contribution to the health insurance plan.

"We've tweaked the budget to account for it," he said.

In other business Tuesday, the commission:

* Approved the consent agenda, which included appropriation ordinances totaling $860,701; a request to pay Rogers & Son Concrete $54,315 for the National Street sidewalk project from 13th to 15th streets; a certificate of substantial completion for the National Street Project from 13th to 15th Street and Eighth Street at the Fort Scott Aquatic Center; and a change order of $6,151 for the National Street and Aquatic Center Sidewalk Project.

* Approved a request from Tom Gorman representing the United Way of Bourbon County for a United Way fundraiser called a Zombie Chase to take place Sept. 13 at Gunn Park. The event will include a 5K race and one-mile walk. It is intended to raise money for the United Way.

* Approved a request from the Keyhole Youth Center for a $1,500 allocation to the center to help run the facility. Money for the allocation will come from the city's alcohol and drug fund.

* Heard a report from Bruce Swank, codes assistant who was speaking on behalf of Codes Manager Brent Crays, on figures from the April 7 hailstorm that battered Bourbon County. Swank said about 1,500 building permits have been issued since the storm and about $11 million in damages to primary structures throughout Fort Scott have been assessed. City Manager Dave Martin said that figure reflects revenue from projects that have "already been contracted out" and completed since the storm.

"That's amazing," Bartelsmeyer said.

More on Tuesday's city commission meeting will appear in Thursday's edition of the Tribune.