The City of Watonga has issued its draft budget.
The proposal shows anticipated revenue to the city general fund through sales taxes of $1.67 million; other taxes at $110,000, other services at $215,500, court income at $50,000, receipts from the 522 district – or ambulance service, at $375,000, miscellaneous receipts at $266,000 and assistance collections at $150,000. The revenue comes to close to $2.9 million. The general fund also anticipates transfers in of $ 1.5 million from other funds.
Outgo from the general fund include general government costs of $889,960; managerial costs of $126,135; costs in the city treasurer’s office of $51,128; city attorneys cost of $50,000; costs of $24,000 to hold municipal court ; $ 759,017 for the police department; $438,055 for the fire department; $551,637 for EMS; $96,042 for code enforcement; $539,255 for the streets department; $244,177 for the library; $263,933 for the parks department; and $55,000 for the airport.
The general fund began with a balance of $2.9 million. Collectively with the anticipated income of another $2.9 million and transfers of slightly over $1 million that comes to about $6.8 million. Until, that is, expenses are taken into account. Those expenses for the general fund adds to about $4.08 million, leaving some $2.6 million, or a net drop of $120,299.
In the enterprise funds, the revenues are expected to be $4.42 million for electric sales; $728,106 for water sales, $620,000 for sewage income; and $13.6 million in miscella income. That $13 million is from the loan the city obtained to construct the drinking water treatment facility and the wastewater treatment facility.
Expenses at the light and water fund are expected to come to $3.05 million in the electric department; $7.46 million in the water department; $7.49 million for the sewer department; $640,000 for the garbage department and $704,592 for administration. Those numbers include costs for construction and the administration costs include the architects the city has hired to oversee the construction projects. The light and water fund is also expected to transfer $1.5 million to the general fund. With the income added and the expenses and transfers subtracted, the light and water fund is expected to finish 2025 with $273,609 less in the bank than it began the fiscal year with.
The public works authority expects to bring in $92,634 and spend $88,840, or $3,994 to the good. The fund started with $248,197 and will end with $252,191.
The last enterprise fund, economic development, anticipates an income of $50,000 and another $50,000 transfer in, with expenses of $80,000 for a balance increase of $20,000. It begins the fiscal year with $165,836 and should end with $185,836. Economic development handles the Cheese Festival, the back-to-school events, community beautification grant awards and community coffees as well as works to promote Watonga to prospective businesses and companies.
There is also a capital projects fund that collects the capital improvement sales tax passed by a vote of the citizens. IT expects to take in $535,400 and expend $809,855. There is a current balance of $501,705 so that when all is said and done, the fund will hold $227,259, or a decrease of $274,446.
There are also special funds, including street and alley, two for the hospital, grant funds and a library special revenue fund. Those lumped together start with $319,000, expect to collect $908,399, spend $993,953 for an ending balance of $233,319, or a decrease of $86, 554. Monies in these funds are earmarked and can only be spent in the department for which they are collected.
The beginning balance in the city coffers is $7.01 million; the income is anticipated at $24.687 million; expenses are expected to be $25.418 million, leaving an estimated end balance of $6.286 million, or a decrease of $730,914.
As the city moves through the budget year, however, and is faced with actual income and expenses rather than dealing with expected revenue and expenditures, the departments will constantly adjust their operations to meet budget constraints or windfalls.