< Full site
The Prescott Daily Courier Mobile

Final budget of $66.7 million advances to PV council


6/26/2012 10:25:00 PM

 By The Daily Courier

 PRESCOTT VALLEY - Months of discussions on the budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year will culminate Thursday when the final budget of nearly $66.7 million advances to the Town Council for adoption.

The council adopted the tentative budget of the same amount May 24, and the final budget may not exceed that amount. It is $266,269 lower than the budget that the council adopted for the 2011-12 fiscal year, which concludes June 30.

The council action on the final budget will follow a mandatory public hearing Thursday.

The most visible effect of the new budget is that town offices will be open Fridays beginning with the new fiscal year.

Town officials reduced the hours of a majority of town employees from 40 to 38 in November 2009, and closed the Civic Center building except for the magistrate courtroom on the first floor as part of continuing austerity measures. Town officials also instituted unpaid furloughs for management staffers, who are salaried.

The cutback in hours amounted to a 5 percent pay cut, Town Manager Larry Tarkowski said at the time.

However, the economy is looking brighter, and management in February discussed the possibility of restoring the five-day workweek with the additional hours. Tarkowski and Community Development Director Richard Parker also cited convenience to builders who do not have to wait until the following Monday to apply for permits, and for the public to pay water and sewer bills on Fridays.

"We are going to begin to see housing turn around," Tarkowski said Monday. "And we are also seeing more money that is anticipated from state-shared revenues," which come predominantly from sales and income taxes.

While acknowledging that employees will see their hours restored, Tarkowski noted nobody is getting a raise. The town has about 170 full-time-equivalent employees.

The council meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. and takes place in the library auditorium, 7401 E. Civic Circle.

Also on the agenda are:

• A proclamation on parks and recreation month.

• Appointment of Franki Gibson to an additional term on the Arts and Culture Commission.

• Re-appointment of Karyl Colozze and Renee Ramsey to the Library Board of Trustees.

• Re-appointment of Buzz Gummer and Suzanne Applegate to the Parks and Recreation Commission.

• Re-appointment of Jan Bear and Judy Stanley to the Personnel Board.

• A rescheduled public hearing on a proposal by staff to use federal Community Development Block Grant money for improvements on Loos Drive. The town expects to receive $485,858, and is eligible to apply for an additional $300,000.

• Award of a concessionaire contract to Cake Works AZ for the library café.




 

The Prescott Daily Courier Home


< Full site