$13.4M General Fund Budget Proposed for Commission Approval

More than $9.2 Million in Intergovernmental Grants in Revenue Column

by Mary Beth Wright, LFN Editor

The meeting was late and it was long, but La Feria City Commissioners were carefully studying twenty two pages of the 2014-15 proposed general fund budget at a workshop held during their regular meeting held Tuesday, August 26. The Utility Board meeting ran overtime and then with the La Feria Economic Development Board meeting prior to the City Commission meeting; it caused a 30 minute or so delay. The other boards were also discussing their budgets for the new year.

The $13.4 million proposed budget offers a one to three percent salary increase for city employees, but no new positions. The staff estimates expenses to increase by at least four percent in most areas for next year with medical insurance premiums expected to increase by 10 percent.

Sales tax revenues are expected to keep trending upwards by three percent and the city will receive about the same monies in property taxes as last year by using the effective tax rate of $.7135 per $100 valuation. Cameron County will pay the city approximately $202,045 for fire protection and a FEMA grant administrative fund is included at $130,000.

La Feria City Manager Sunny K. Philip commented, ““The proposed budget maintains the same level of service and will accommodate new capital improvements of approximately $4,000,000. This is made possible by community support, elected officials leadership, and a seasoned and dedicated group of employees and volunteers.”

The city estimates revenues, in this proposed balanced budget, from $689,392 in property taxes; $888,901 in sales and franchise taxes, $1.09 million in contracts, the swimming pool, garbage and building leases; $177,000 in municipal court fines, $32,000 in licenses and permits and more than $9.2 million in intergovernmental grants.

La Feria will spend $1.24 million on their public safety department in the proposed budget which includes the fire, police and  dispatch. A little over $1 million is allocated for the general government budget and $570,000 for the park, street, and sanitation departments.

Over $7 million dollars in capital outlay projects included in this proposed budget are listed for a new computer, a pump structure project, large rainage project, the dome shelters, and the technology and success center. These projects are almost all grant funded projects.

The commission will hold another budget workshop on September 5 and the 2014-15 budget will be on the agenda for final approval for the regular City Commission meeting of September 9, 2014.