City of Lawrence, Kansas

First Quarter Report – 2012

 

Purpose of Report

 

The following information summarizes the financial activities of the City of Lawrence through the end of the first quarter of 2012 on a budget basis.  The report provides budgetary highlights from the major funds of the City.  The report also compares financial activities to the budget and the two previous years.  

 

 

Summary / Conclusion

 

With one quarter of the year lapsed, total revenues have increased compared to this period last year in most of the City’s major funds.  Likewise, total expenditures have increased compared to the first quarter of 2011 in most of the City’s major funds. 

 

Most departments in the general fund have spent a larger percentage of the budget in the first quarter of 2012 than in either of the two prior years.  Much of this is due to an additional pay period in the first quarter of 2012 and increased City contributions to employee retirement systems. 

 

 

General Operating Fund

Table 1.  General Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2010

% of budget

2011

% of budget

2012

% of budget

Revenue Source

1st Qtr.

1st Qtr.

1st Qtr.

Property Taxes

$6,521,767

43.7%

$6,639,836

44.8%

$6,899,115

45.2%

Franchise Fees

$1,701,355

29.5%

$1,732,514

28.3%

$1,596,564

24.9%

Sales Tax

7,346,387

23.8%

7,858,691

26.1%

8,251,746

27.0%

Licenses & Permits

214,848

21.7%

176,007

20.2%

189,236

21.0%

Intergovernmental

204,250

26.4%

202,340

26.1%

230,771

28.1%

Service Charges

119,664

18.3%

221,825

33.7%

175,137

25.9%

Fines

716,624

25.6%

624,570

21.2%

760,493

25.3%

Interest

19,020

3.2%

30,479

12.2%

37,803

25.2%

Miscellaneous

1,665,373

39.0%

1,226,772

27.5%

1,062,243

23.4%

Transfers

937,498

27.2%

965,295

26.9%

942,393

25.8%

Total Revenue

 $19,446,786

29.9%

 $19,678,329

30.5%

 $20,145,501

30.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenditures

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Government

 $    6,041,649

17.8%

 $    6,324,364

18.1%

 $    6,853,595

19.9%

Public Safety

5,934,680

20.8%

6,052,300

21.2%

7,154,774

24.1%

Public Works

1,823,822

27.0%

1,471,059

21.5%

2,350,156

35.8%

Parks & Recreation

685,489

20.5%

618,547

19.3%

780,046

24.3%

Total Expenditures

 $14,485,640

20.0%

 $14,466,270

19.6%

 $17,138,571

23.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues over

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenditures

4,961,146

5,212,059

3,006,930

 

 

Summary

Revenues totaling $20,145,502 have been collected in 2012 as of the end of March.  This is an increase of $467,173, or 2.4% from revenues collected in the first quarter of 2011 and represents 30.5% of 2012 budget.  General Fund expenditures in the first quarter of 2012 totaled $17,138,571, which represents 23.2% of budgeted expenditures for 2012.  This is an increase of $2,672,301, or 18.5%, from this same period last year.  When adjusted for the transfer of $5.9M that was budgeted in 2012 to comply with the state law that limits budgeted fund balance to 5% of expenditures, expenditures to date in 2012 represent 25.2% of budget. 

 

Revenue Highlights

Table 1 summarizes General Operating Fund revenues to date by source for three years.  More information for each revenue category is provided below.

 

Property Taxes.  Slight increases in assessed valuation and the mill levy resulted in an increase in revenues collected from property taxes through the end of the March in 2012.  Collections increased 3.9%, or $259,279, compared to last year and represent 45.2% of the amount budgeted for 2012, compared to 44.8% of budget collected as of the end of the first quarter 2011 and 43.7% at this point in 2010. 

 

Franchise Fees.  Overall, collections at the end of the first quarter are down 7.8%, or $135,950, from the total franchise fees collected in the first quarter of 2011.  Collections from telephone franchise fees are up 10.0% from this period last year, however, collections from gas franchise fees are down 25.3%, or $120,429, from last year and collections from cable TV franchise fees are down 12.6%, or $23,348, from 1st quarter 2011.  Collections from electric franchise fees are relatively flat, down $3,263, or less than 1% from 2011.  Despite the reduction in collections, total franchise fee collected as of the end of the first quarter represent 24.9% of 2012 budget.  However, this is significantly less than in 2011, when first quarter collections represented 28.3% of budget.   

 

Sales/Use Tax.  Total receipts from sales/use tax increased by $393,056, or 5.0%, over the same period last year. 

 

Proceeds from the City’s one percent sales tax are up 5.0%, or $180,377, over the first quarter of last year.  The infrastructure sales tax and transit sales taxes are up 5.0%, or $99,207, over this same period in 2011.  The city’s share of the county sales tax/use tax is up 5.0%, or $113,471, over the first quarter of 2011. 

 

Overall, sales/use tax revenues collected through the end of March 2012 represent 27.0% of the amount budgeted for 2012, compared to only 26.1% of budget collected at the end of this quarter in 2011 and 23.8% at the end of the first quarter of 2010. 

 

Intergovernmental Revenues.  Overall, intergovernmental revenue received in the first quarter of 2012 represent 28.6% of budget.  While the amount of the payment from the state for highway connecting links was the same as the payment in 2011, liquor tax receipts were up 6.1%, or $9,936. 

 

Licenses and Permit Fees.  Revenue from licenses and permit fees in the first quarter increased $13,229, or 7.5%, from this period last year.  Revenue from building permit and inspection fees was flat, up just $217, from first quarter last year.  Revenue from business licenses increased $10,978, or 33.0%, over this quarter in 2011.  Occupational licenses (plumber, electrician, contractor, solicitor, taxicab, etc.) were up 4.5% compared to this period last year.  Overall, license and permit revenues collected through the end of March represent 21.0% of 2012 budget.

 

Service Charges.  Overall, revenue from service charges declined 21.0%, or $46,688, over this period in 2011 and represent 25.9% of the 2012 budget for service charges.  This decrease can be attributed to a engineering fee revenue.  In 2011, revenues from engineering fees as of the end of March totaled $124,108.  This year, no engineering fee revenue, which is collected upon completion of benefit districts, has been collected as of the end of March.  Police tow charges and finger print fees are also down slightly, as are fees for weed inspections and mowing as well as copy charges.      

 

Revenues related to street trees totaled $15,350 as of the end of March in 2012.  Due to a change in accounting, they were not included in this report in previous years. 

 

Reimbursements for YSI are also up $26,310 over this period last year.  Cemetery fees are up nearly 50%, or $15,068, compared to this quarter in 2011.  Pursuant to our agreement with Grant Township, revenue from the township fire levy increased 4.5% over last year. 

 

Fines.  Fines in the General Fund collected through the end of March increased 21.8%, or $135,923, from 2011 and represent 25.3% of the amount budgeted for fines in 2012.  Revenue collected from police officer tickets increased by $4,174, or 5.1%, municipal court fines and fees collected increased by $131,749, or 24.3%, compared to 2011. 

 

Interest.  Interest revenue in the General Fund continues to be low due to lower interest rates, the timing of our investments, and having lower balances to invest.  Only $37,803 has been collected as of the end of March 2012.  However, this is an increase of 24.0%, or $7,324, over this period last year and represents 25.2% of the 2012 budget.  In 2011, only 12.2% of budget was collected as of the end of the first quarter, while 3.2% of budget was collected in the first quarter of 2010. 

 

Miscellaneous Revenues.  Miscellaneous revenues collected to date decreased $164,529, or 13.4% when compared to 2011 and represent 23.4% of budget.  The largest revenue included in miscellaneous revenues is payments from Douglas County for providing EMS services.  The City received $210,111 less from the County in the 1st quarter of this year than in 2011.  This is likely due to timing of billing and payment, however, staff will continue to monitor this revenue source.  This category also includes the payment from Douglas County for their share of the operations of the County Health Building.  To date, the City has received $21,654, or 72.7%, more in 2012 than in the first quarter of 2011. 

 

Transfers In.  Revenue is transferred to the General Operating Fund from other City funds for general overhead expenses and in lieu of a franchise fee paid by utilities.  As of the end of March, $22,902 less has been transferred in 2012 than in the first quarter of 2011.  The decrease can be attributed to the timing of transfers for general overhead expenses from the Water and Wastewater Fund.  Transfers to date represent 25.8% of budget. 

 

Expenditures

Overall, General Fund expenditures in the first quarter of 2012 represent 23.2% of the 2012 adopted budget.  When adjusted for the transfer budgeted for fund balance purposes, 25.2% of 2012 budget has been spent with 25% of the year lapsed.  

 

As shown on Table 4, three divisions in the General Fund have expended 25% or more of their 2012 budget as of the end of the first quarter.  More information is provided on each of these divisions below.

·         Planning (25.2%) due to an encumbrance for the Oread Neighborhood Design Guidelines;

·         Municipal Court (25.0%) due to an encumbrance for annual lease payments;

·         Streets (53.4%) due to an encumbrance for the street maintenance program ($1.3 million.)  Without the encumbrance, only 10.0% of this division budget has been expended to date; and

·         Health Department / Community Health Building Maintenance (39.1%) due to the timing of the payment to the Lawrence Douglas County Health Department for the City’s share of their operations ($648,929.)  Excluding the operation costs, only 19.8% of the division budget has been expended as of the end of March. 

 

Expenditures to date represent an increase of $2,672,301, or 18.5% over the same period last year.  The majority of the increase in total expenditures in the general fund can be attributed to public safety and public works however, general government and parks and recreation expenditures increased as well.  Highlights for each category of expenditure are provided below.

 

General Government expenditures include City Commission, City Manager’s Office, Public Information, Planning and Development Services, City Clerk, Human Resources, Risk Management, Finance, General Overhead, Transfers, Information Systems, Legal Services, Human Relations, and Municipal Court.  Expenditures in this category as of the end of the first quarter of 2012 have increased $529,231, or 8.4% over 2011. 

 

The majority of the increase was in transfers out of the general fund.  Overall, $347,711, or 10.8%, more was transferred out of the general fund in the first quarter of 2012 than was transferred out in the first quarter of 2011.  One of the largest increases was in the transfer of infrastructure sales tax into the equipment reserve fund, which was $307,522 more than in this period last year.  The transfer of infrastructure sales tax to the capital improvement reserve fund also increased 54,113, or 5.7%, over last year while the transfer to the transit fund increased 5.0%, or $36,076.    As budgeted for 2012, the transfer of proceeds from the countywide sales tax to the sales tax reserve fund decreased by $125,202, or 17.5%, compared to this quarter last year.

Personnel costs for general government were 9.8%, or $204,210, higher in 2012 than in the same period last year.  Much of this increase can be attributed to there being one additional pay period in the first quarter of 2012 than was in the first quarter of last year.  The remainder was due to increases in associated benefit costs such as KPERS, FICA, and unemployment as well as merit increases for eligible employees.

 

General Government contractual services decreased 2.0%, or $20,438, compared to the same period in 2011.  The majority of the decrease is due to expenditures related to reimbursement of the Oread TIF and TDD sales tax proceeds.  Under our agreement with the Oread, the proceeds from the 1% TDD sales tax, as well as the proceeds from the City’s 1% sales tax and the City and County’s share of the countywide sales tax are reimbursed to the developer of the Oread for the cost of the public improvements made in the district.  As of the end of the first quarter, $49,839 was reimbursed to the Oread in 2012.  Last year, $218,161 was reimbursed to the Oread as of the end of the first quarter.  It should be noted however, that the reimbursements in the first quarter of 2011 were for all proceeds collected since the district was created in 2009, not just the first three months of the year.   

 

Some of the decrease was offset by increases in outside agency payments due to the timing of the payments in 2012. 

 

General government commodities in the first quarter were up 12.3%, or $3,557, from last year.  No capital outlay expenditures were made in the first quarter of 2012, compared to $5,755 in this quarter last year. 

 

Overall, general government expenditures through the end of the first quarter 2012 represented 19.9% of 2012 budget.  In 2011, 18.1% of the budget for this category of expenditures had been expended as of the end of March.  In 2010, only 17.8% of the budget was expended at the end of the first quarter.    

 

Public Safety includes Police, Fire Medical, and the City’s share of the Health Department operations and community health building maintenance.  Overall, first quarter public safety expenditures increased 18.2%, or $1,102,474, over the first quarter of 2011 and represent 24.1% of budget. In 2011, 21.2% of the budget was expended at the end of March while only 20.8% was expended at the end of the first quarter of 2010.   

 

As shown on Table 6, almost all of the increase can be attributed to personnel costs, which increased 27.5%, or $1,308,821, over the same period last year.  This can be attributed to the additional pay period in the first quarter of 2012, as well as increased benefit costs.  For instance, the city’s contributions to employee retirement plans for public safety employees in the first quarter increased $250,372 over this period last year.  The addition of five new police positions in 2011, the general wage adjustment for MOU covered employees and merit increases for eligible employees also contributed to the increase over prior year.   

 

Public safety contractual services were 6.1%, or $54,199, less than in first quarter 2011.  This can be attributed to a reduction in janitorial service expenses for the health department building, which were down $63,594, or 82.1%.  In 2011, janitorial services were encumbered for the entire year but there are no encumbrances in 2012.    

 

Public safety commodities through the end of the first quarter 2012 increased $45,917, or 23.0%, more than commodities expenditures in the first quarter of 2011.  This was largely due to small equipment expenses.  Capital outlay decreased $198,038 from this period last year due to the timing of the purchase of police department vehicles.  In 2011, the police vehicles were purchased in the first quarter.  A decision was made to delay the purchase of police vehicles in 2012 in order to allow for the roll out of the new Ford Interceptor. 

 

Public Works includes Street Maintenance, Engineering, Traffic, Airport, Building Maintenance, Street Lights, Levee Maintenance, and Building Maintenance.  Expenditures in this category to date have increased $879,097, or 59.8%, from the first quarter of 2011 and represent 35.8% of budget.  In 2011, 21.5% of the budget was expended, and in 2010, 27.0% of budget was expended as of the end of the first quarter. 

 

Public works personnel costs increased 22.8%, or $88,554, over the same period last year due to the additional pay period in the first quarter of 2012, merit increases for eligible employees and increased benefit costs.  Contractual services decreased $122,405, or 29.0%, over the first three months of 2011.  This was in part due to a reduction in snow removal expenses.  As a result of the warmer winter, there were no snow removal expenses in the first quarter of 2012, compared to $75,287 in the first quarter of 2011.  Warmer temperatures also contributed to reduced expenditures on electricity, which decreased $48,439, or 25.3% over first quarter 2011 despite higher electric rates.  Motor vehicle repairs were also down 18.3%, or $12,289 when compared to the same period last year. 

 

Public works commodities through the end of March 2012 were up $890,853 from this period in 2011.  This increase can be attributed to encumbrances for street maintenance programs.  In 2012, $1.3 million has been encumbered for street maintenance as of the end of March.  In 2011, only $476,000 was encumbered at the end of the first quarter.   The increase in encumbrances was offset by decreases in expenses for fuel, salt, and asphalt which can be attributed to the milder winter.   

 

As of the end of the first quarter 2012, $22,094 was spent on capital outlay in public works.  This is an increase over 2011, when nothing was spent on capital outlay in public works as of the end of the first quarter. 

 

Parks and Recreation expenditures from the General Fund through the end of March increased by 26.1%, or $161,499, compared to this period in 2011. Expenditures in this category represent 24.3% of 2012 budget compared to 19.3% of budget spent at the end of March 2011.  

 

Personnel costs were up 21.9%, or $79,644, from the same period last year due to the additional pay period in the first quarter of 2012, as well as merit increase for eligible employees and increased benefit costs.  Contractual services were up $45,680, or 24.1%, compared to first quarter 2011.  Parks and recreation commodities increased $6,501, or 11.3%, compared to this period last year due to increased expenses for trees, seeds, and plants.  Capital outlay increased $29,675 over this quarter last year, due to the replacement of two vans damaged in a fire at the parks and recreation facility on 11th street. 

 

 

Other Property Tax Supported Funds

 

Recreation Fund

 

 

Revenues.  Table 9 shows Recreation Fund revenues collected as of the end of the first quarter of 2012 decreased $4,921, compared to the same period last year and represent 24.4% of 2012 budget.  

 As shown on Table 9a, the largest category of revenues in the Recreation Fund collected to date is the transfer of the proceeds from the City share of the countywide sales tax from the General Fund.  State law requires all sales tax revenue to be deposited in our General Operating Fund before it can be transferred to other funds.  Transfers increased 12.0%, or $50,202, over this period in 2011 pursuant to Commission direction to eliminate the mill levy for Recreation and replace property tax as a revenue source with sales tax.

 

Motor Vehicle taxes and delinquent payments account for 1% of the revenues collected in the fund as of the end of the first quarter.  Property tax revenues as of the end of the first quarter represent 62.7% of budget.      

 

Service charges account for 48% of the revenues in the Recreation Fund as of the end of March 2012.  Overall, service charges collected in the first quarter of the year increased $39,784, or 10.1%, over the same period last year. 

 

Most of this increase came from increased revenues collected from aquatics, which increased $35,517, or 29.5%, over this period last year.  Building rental revenue was also up compared to this period last year, increasing 28.9%, or $8,769.  Class enrollment fees increased 4.4%, or $3,417, over the first quarter last year.  Adult sport entry fees collected through the end of March 2012 were up 6.9% while youth sport entry fees were down 12.5% compared to fees collected in this quarter in 2011.  Special event fees decreased $4,620, or 14.8%, compared to this quarter last year. 

 

Expenditures.  Table 9 above shows Recreation Fund expenditures through the end of the first quarter decreased 3.7%, or $32,790, compared to the first quarter of 2011 and represent 20.1% of 2012 budget.  This is consistent with 2011, when 20.9% of the budget was expended as of the end of March.

 

Personnel costs were down 3.0%, or $22,314, from the same period last year due to the timing of payments for the City’s contribution to employee healthcare.  This decrease is despite the additional pay period in 2012, merit increases for eligible employees, and increased benefits costs.  Contractual services were also down $17,742, or 23.9%, compared to first quarter 2011. 

 

Parks and recreation commodities increased $1,773, or 3.4%, compared to this period last year.  This is largely due to an increase sports and playground equipment.  Capital outlay increased $5,493 due to an encumbrance for the purchase of a treadmill for the East Lawrence Recreation Center. 

 

Bond and Interest Fund

 

 

Revenues.  Table 11 shows revenues in the Bond and Interest Fund at the end of the first quarter were $686,357, or 14.7%, more than at the end of March last year and represent 52.0% of 2012 budget.  The increase can be attributed to the increase in the mill levy, which was approved by the voters to fund the renovations of the Lawrence Public Library. 

 

Expenses.  Table 11 shows interest payments through the end of March 2012, were $152,774, or 12.6%, less than payments through the end of March 2010. 

 

 

Public Transportation Fund

 

 

Revenues.  Revenues collected through the end of the first quarter in 2012 represent 27.6% of budget, which is similar to last year when 27.2% of budgeted revenues had been collected at the end of this period.  Sales tax proceeds, which are categorized as a transfer because state law requires that sales tax revenue be deposited in our General Operating Fund before it can be transferred to other funds, increased 5.0%, or $36,076, over the first three months of 2011.    

 

Revenues from service charges (bus fares, sale of bus passes, etc.) increased $4,346, or 6.4%, compared to the same period last year.  This is a slight slow-down from 2011, when first quarter revenues from fares increased 12.3%, or $7,366.    

 

Expenditures.  Excluding the encumbrance to MV Transportation for operations, expenditures in the Public Transportation Fund in the first three months of 2012 represent 38.5% of budget and increased by $274,582, or 27.4% over the first quarter of 2011. 

 

Personnel costs increased just $1,961, or 5.5%, over last year despite the additional pay period in first quarter 2012, merit increases for eligible employees as well as increased benefits costs. Contractual services through the end of the first quarter decreased 2.9%, or $16,116.  This decrease can be attributed to the encumbrance for lease payments for the new transit facility, which was less in first quarter 2012 than in first quarter 2011.  Commodities increased by 72.0%, or $288,737, due to increased fuel costs, which were 72.4% higher in the first quarter of last year. 

 

 

Enterprise Funds

Summary

Table 13 compares revenues and expenses to date for the City’s five Enterprise Funds.  Of these four funds, there are two – the Solid Waste Fund and Public Parking Fund – with more revenue collected than expenses to date in 2012.  Expenses to date exceeded revenues collected to date in the Water and Wastewater Fund, Storm Water Fund and the Golf Course Fund.  Additional revenue and expenditure information for each Enterprise Fund is provided below.

 

 

 

Water and Wastewater Fund

 

 

Revenues.  Total revenues collected to date in the Water and Wastewater Fund in 2012 were $603,033, or 9.2%, more than revenues collected at the end of March 2011 and represent 23.0% of the 2012 adopted budget.  This increase over 2011 is due to increased water and sewer rates as well as increased water sales.

 

Expenses.  Water and Wastewater Fund expenses in the first quarter of 2012 were $757,458, or 9.8%, more than expenditures in the same period last year and represent 18.7% of the 2012 budget.  Five operating divisions have exceeded 25% of budget with 25% of the year lapsed.  However, expenditures include over $2.2 million in encumbrances that may not be expended in 2012.  Without these encumbrances, no division has exceeded 25% of 2012 budget as of the end of the first quarter.    

 

Personnel costs through the end of the first quarter 2012 are 22.3%, or $394,244, more than in 2010.  Most of the increase can be attributed to the additional pay period in the first quarter of 2012.  Also contributing to the increase were merit increases for eligible employees and increased benefits costs.  The City’s contribution to employee retirement for water and wastewater employees increased 32.8%, or $33,121.  Overtime also increased $32,434, or 43.1%, in the first quarter of 2012 over the same period last year. 

 

Contractual services in the Water and Wastewater Fund were up 18.4%, or $256,462, from the same period last year.  This increase was in building repairs, as well as repairs and maintenance of machinery and equipment.    

 

Commodities increased $187,561, or 10.5%, over last year largely due to increased chemical expenses, which were up 4%, or $58,138.  Also contributing to the increase were distribution supplies, which increased 47%, or $48,530, over this period last year and   Clinton raw water expenses, which increased $75,643 over this period last year.   

 

Capital outlay increased $11,523, or 57.7%, in the first three months of 2012 than in the same period last year, due to a general improvement to the Clinton Water Plant. 

 

Debt service through the end of the first quarter has been $81,762, or 5.5%, more in 2012 than it was in this quarter of 2011.  Transfers from the fund also decreased $173,773, or 13.6%, from this period last year due to decreased transfers to the general fund and to cash construction.   

 

Solid Waste Fund

 

 

Revenues.  Total revenues in the Solid Waste Fund collected through the end of the first quarter of 2012 increased 4.9%, or $127,926, over the first quarter of 2011 and represent 25.1% of budget.  Increased rates resulted in an increase of $110,007, or 4.4%, in revenue from service charges over this quarter last year.  Miscellaneous charges increased 15.7%, or $17,919.  This significant increase is due to improvement in the prices the City is receiving for recycled materials, as well as revenue from compost programs.

 

Expenses.  Expenses to date represent 16.9% of 2012 budget and decreased 6.1%, or $141,213, from this period last year. 

 

Personnel costs for the first three months of 2012 increased 14.3%, or $163,722, over the same period last year.  This can be attributed to the additional pay period in the first quarter of 2012 as well as merit increases for eligible employees and increased benefits costs. 

 

Contractual services were $57,404, or 9.9%, more through the end of March 2012 than through the same period last year.  Included in contractual services are landfill charges, which were $42,500 less in the first quarter.  Household hazardous waste expenses increased $50,875 over the period last year.  Motor vehicle repairs also increased $41,338. 

 

Commodities increased just $4,095, or 3.7%, largely due to increased diesel fuel costs, which increased 13.4%, or $7,965 over the same period in 2011.  Transfers decreased 73.1%, or $366,434 due to a change in the timing of transfers to the equipment reserve fund. 

 

Public Parking Fund

 

 

Revenues.  Revenues in this fund increased $32,718, or 11.7%, over this period last year and represent 26.6% of the 2012 budget.  In 2011, only 24.0% of budgeted revenues were collected as of the end of the first quarter.  In 2010, 23.5% of the budget was collected as of the end of this quarter.

 

Expenses.  Expenses in the first three months of this year increased $22,973, or 9.7%, over the same period last year and represent 21.4% of 2012 budget.  Personal Services increased 20.5%, or $37,848, due to the additional pay period in the first quarter of 2012, as well as merit increases for eligible employees and increased benefit costs.  Contractual services decreased $8,593, or 23.1%, from this quarter last year largely due to reduced building repair expenses.  Commodities also decreased 42.5%, or $6,282, compared to the first quarter of 2011.  The decrease can be attributed to reduced expenses for trees, seeds, and plants in this quarter compared to the same period last year.      

 

Storm Water Fund

 

 

Revenues.  Revenues collected in the Storm Water Fund in the first three months of 2012 continue to be relatively flat compared to the first three months of last year, increasing just $3,281.  Revenues to date represent 24.2% of 2012 budget.

 

Expenses.  Year to date expenses as of the end of March 2012 represent 23.3% of budget and increased $41,252 or 5.1%, compared to this period last year.  Personnel costs increased 8.7%, or $13,977, due to the additional pay period in first quarter 2012 as well as merit increases for eligible employees and increased benefits costs.  Contractual services in the first quarter of 2012 increased 145.9%, or $17,590, over prior year.  One of the largest increases was in mowing expenses.  In the first quarter of 2012, the City spent $11,760 on mowing, compared to 2011 when the City had no mowing expenses in the first quarter.  Motor vehicle repair expenses also increased $4,756.

 

Commodities expenses through the end of March decreased $11,062, or 6.7%, compared to the same period in 2011.  While many categories saw increases, curb repair expenses were $133,418 less in first quarter 2012 than first quarter 2011 resulting in the overall decrease in this expense category. 

 

Capital outlay in the first quarter of 2012 was $55,068, or 20.8%, more than in the same period of 2011.  This was attributed an increase in construction expenses, which offset a reduction in equipment expenses.  Debt service payments in the first quarter of this year were 12.4%, or $9,321, less than this period last year.  Finally, the transfers out of this fund were $25,000 less than in this period last year due to a reduction in the transfer to the workers compensation fund budgeted for 2012. 

 

Public Golf Course Fund

 

 

Revenues.  Public Golf Course Fund revenue collected as of the end of the first quarter of 2012 was $52,142, or 118.8%, more than revenue collected over the same period in 2011.  However, with 25% of the year lapsed, revenues collected to date represent just 10.6% of 2012 budget.  Warmer weather contributed to this improvement over the past two years, when only 5.8% and 4.0% of budgeted revenues were collected as of the end of the first quarter.     

 

Expenses.  Public Golf Course Fund expenses through the end of March 2012 represent 17.7% of budget and decreased $45,481, or 18.0%, less than expenses from this period in 2011.  Personnel costs increased 10.0%, or $7,778, over this period last year.  Commodities also increased 37.4%, or $13,172, over the first quarter of 2011.  However, these increases were offset with reductions in contractual services of $20,954, and in capital outlay 86.2%, or $45,477.