EDMOND —
The Edmond City Council has begun discussing its budget for the next fiscal year beginning July 1. City Finance Director Ross VanderHamm briefed the City Council at a budget workshop Monday.
Last year the council budgeted for a 3 percent rise in sales tax revenue and ended up seeing 6.18 percent growth for the fiscal year, VanderHamm said. This was the highest growth rate in the previous five years, he said.
Sales tax figures from the state show the city’s January check is 15.49 percent above the same period a year ago, VanderHamm said. Collections represent the last two weeks of November and the first two weeks of December.
VanderHamm recommends that the council budget for a 6 percent sales tax growth for FY 2013-14 with 5 percent budgets to follow for the next four years.
“That’s higher than the last few years but it’s below the average of the last 10 years,” VanderHamm said.
The City Council had budgeted for 3 percent growth in sales tax for the fiscal year. Year to date receipts for sales tax revenue are currently 19.31 percent more than a year ago, VanderHamm said.
Sales tax figures from the state show the city’s January check is 15.49 percent above the same period a year ago, and last month’s sales tax receipts showed collections were up 31 percent. Collections represent the last two weeks of November and the first two weeks of December.
“Generally speaking our direct revenues went from $40.1 million in 2007-08 to $45.6 million in 2011-12,” VanderHamm said.
The city’s sales tax is 3.75 percent. It is added to the 4.50 percent state sales tax.
“Last year we actually spent $1.4 million less than what we actually brought in,” VanderHamm said.
The General Fund Sales Tax for 2012 saw 6.8 percent growth above the prior fiscal year.
This year’s budget for the General Fund is $28.2 million, he said.
VanderHamm said the city has $19 million budgeted for the first seven months of the fiscal year. The General Fund revenue at the end of the fiscal year would still be 10 percent above the prior year at $30.8 million even with the 3-percent growth budgeted by the city, VanderHamm said.
“Do I think that’s where we are going to be? No,” VanderHamm said.
He said the City of Edmond is likely experiencing a 7 percent to 8 percent real growth in sales tax collections if it does not include the extra revenue from spring storm damage.
City Councilwoman Victoria Caldwell said the City Council also should consider that single-family construction permits went up about 55 percent from the year before.
The council will determine the 2013-14 budget in May and must vote on it by June.
Local News
Council mulls budget issues
- Local News
-
-
UPDATE: Tornado touches portions of Edmond
Roger Williams and his wife Shellie, residents in Edmond’s Thornbrooke neighborhood since 2004, were watching the weather reports Sunday as a large storm approached the city.
When they heard reports that a tornado was spotted near Broadway and 15th Street, then Broadway and 33rd Street, the couple and their son Ethan, 11, took cover in a reinforced interior closet. After they closed the door it got eerily quiet, like being in the eye of a hurricane, Roger said. As the tornado passed by, they could hear a few bangs outside.
“I was kind of scared,” Ethan said. -
SLIDESHOW: Tornado strikes I-35 area of Edmond
A violent tornado ripped trees out of the ground as it dropped into southern Edmond late Sunday afternoon along areas east and west of Interstate 35 from 15th Street to 33rd Street, according to various reports. Damage in Edmond is confirmed by the city and included blown out windows at the brand new Mercy I-35 facility that was scheduled to open later this year. Hail also peppered northwest Edmond during the violent storm event.
-
The Big One
It’s a bleak scenario. A massive earthquake along the New Madrid fault kills or injures 60,000 people in Tennessee. A quarter of a million people are homeless.
-
City plans to hire downtown consultant
Conceptual ideas about how the City of Edmond may plan for downtown development were shared this week by David Forrest with members of the business community.
The Central Edmond Urban Development Board has revisited plans made in a 1998 Downtown Master Plan through public meetings and presentations to protect the future development of Broadway. Recommendations by the group will be taken into account by future city councils. -
Feds recommend changing legal alcohol content levels
During the past 15 years alcohol contributed to a third of highway deaths prompting the government this week to recommend reducing state Blood Alcohol Content limits from .08 to .05 or lower.
-
St. Mary’s Episcopal School names new Head of School
Pamela Dockter will become the new Head of School at St. Mary’s Episcopal School effective July 1.
-
Local girl receives crown
Audrianna Page Fredericks recently was crowned Miss Junior Teen Oklahoma United States 2013.
-
‘Locker Hooking’ workshop offers instruction in durable, useful crafting technique
Residents who would like to learn how to use the “locker hooking” technique to make one-of-a-kind items for use in the home or for decoration are invited to attend the “Locker Hooking” Workshop Tuesday from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Oklahoma County OSU Cooperative Extension Service.
-
‘Healthy Cooking With Spices and Herbs’ focus of OSU Extension workshop
As Americans try harder to improve their diets by decreasing fat and sugar, the challenge to make dishes tasty as well as healthy becomes that much more important.
-
5-18 Calendar
The Edmond Senior Center, 2733 Marilyn Williams Drive, is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. F or information about Edmond senior programs, stop by and pick up a monthly calendar, check out the Web site at edmondseniorcenter.com or call 216-7600.
Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. and reservations are needed a day in advance by 11 a.m. For lunch reservations, call at 330-6293 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. - More Local News Headlines
-
Raw: Tornadoes Spotted in Kansas
Twiggy, the Water Skiing Squirrel
Sailor Surprises His Mom At Her CU Denver Graduation Ceremony
Official: ‘Amazing’ No One Was Killed In CT Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Coffee Stop Leads To Arrest Of YouTube Sensation Wanted For Murder
Bearded Dragon Reunited With Owner
Marine Reunited with Warzone Companion
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Beyonce Is Pregnant!
SF baseball player overpaid $500,000 RETURNS money -- and team says KEEP IT
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
Dad returns from Afghanistan, surprises family during Rays' first pitch
See Jennifer Lopez's New $10m Hamptons Mansion
Woman tricked into taking abortion pill
Emma Watson Goes Pantless
IRS scandal: Republicans seek to tie Obama to agency's woes
Play of the Day: Flipping to Safety
Pregnant Kim Kardashian Squeezes Her Swollen Feet Into Stilettos
Top Videos of the Week: Angry Taco Bell Guy, Glacier Moves on House, Dog Hates Baths
