All Blytheville City Council members with the exception of Councilman Tommy Abbott and Councilman R. L. Jones were present Thursday evening at the regular monthly Finance Committee meeting to discuss cuts that could be made to the 2016 budget. The tone was polite and courteous, but neither the departments nor the councilmen seemed to be ready to concede sufficiently massive cuts quite yet.
Finance Committee Chairman Stan Parks announced that the City Sales and Use Tax Revenue for November was down $5,261 from last year and that the city's portion of the County Sales and Use Tax, for the same period, was up $2,024.
After eleven months of 2015, the city's departmental expenditures should be at approximately 91.7 percent of its total yearly budget allowance. All city departments are below that mark, with the highest percent of any departments being the "City Attorney's office" at 89.46 percent and "sign and signal" at 89.57 percent.
A revenue report was also provided to the council by Finance Director John Callens this month, reflecting revenue through the end of November. "General Revenues" was at 95 percent of the projections included in the 2015 budget ($7,882,625.90 received and $8,300,595 projected). The Street Department had received 99 percent of their projected revenue ($1,211,100.60 received and $1,223,103 projected). The Parks and Recreation Department was at 85 percent of their projected revenue ($851,445.97 received and $1,002,945 projected). The Sewer Department was at 91 percent of their projected revenue ($1,626,760.90 received and $1,782,750 projected). The Water Department was at only 77 percent of their projected revenue ($2,301,482.90 received and $3,000,000 projected).
"Just so that people know, we raised the wholesale water rates last year," Councilman Kevin Snow reminded the committee, "also, the City of Blytheville has no control on what other cities change for water."
Callens said that the Water Department's 77-percent figure is a little misleading. He explained that while the prices were increased, the reduced demand from numerous factories due to lay offs has reduced the number of gallons sold by the city. He also informed the committee that wholesale water rates are at $2.50 per 1000 gallons and that Blytheville households pay a $10.08 monthly meter fee and $1.28 per 1000 gallons. The average Blytheville household uses between 3,000-4,000 gallons of water per month.
Mayor James W. Sanders also addressed the committee regarding the information that he has received from the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism regarding the City's obligations toward Thunder Bayou as a result of the 1978 Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant and subsequent "conversion" that occurred in 2005.
"We were able to contact John Beneke, a director [at Arkansas Parks and tourism]...I believe that it is my duty to inform you of all of the options...what we were more in the lines of, when we presented our budget, is about restricting and repurposing [Thunder Bayou]...but one option that you can do concerning the golf course is to abandon it, but you still have to replace it with something of equal value. Real estate of equal value, in other words, not an existing park, not the ball fields, but you would have to purpose other property of equal value and it would have to be a part of outdoor recreation. So in my mind then, that's not an option," Sanders said.
He said that he suggested repurposing the 111-acre property, thereby eliminating the need for any "land replacement". He said that some of the ideas being studied is, just as other Arkansas communities have done, installing bicycle trials and walking trails.
"All of those are things that would still generate a health conscience community, which is something that the State of Arkansas and other cities in the state are leaning toward. We've even explored getting grants for those kinds of outdoor things to do. To help us, to help us carry those functions out and we'll be exploring that more, depending on exactly what the council wants or the direction that the council wants me to take on this. But the options again are, can we repurpose the golf course at Thunder Bayou. That answer is yes we can repurpose the golf course," Sanders added.
Sanders said that what he is most concerned about is the general fund and the services that the city can continue to offer.
"What I'm staying conscience on is our general fund and I'm very much concerned with the budget that we've proposed with the health and safety and our services that we provide to the city. That is what I'm mostly concerned about," Sanders said.
Sanders also spoke regarding the suggestion of raising Blytheville's Hotel tax.
"On that, we still see I think about $90,000 if we were to look at that tax. But gentlemen, again that is all about fixing Parks and Recreation. You know that is still not focusing on the big picture in the general funds where the needs that we're talking about dealing with the jobs of the police, fire and sanitation workers," Sanders said.
Sanders also responded to complaints that he is trying to close the golf course.
"Contrary to statements that have been made that the mayor is trying to close this, but what people might not remember is that the mayor went as far as to St. Louis to try to save it from the IRS. But since those times, we have had an opportunity to look at the investments that we have already placed there and we have not seen any long-term return," Sanders said.
Sanders also said that Beneke told him that if the city decided to repurpose the golf course, the site must be kept as an outdoor recreation facility in perpetuity as it is now. Beneke also said that the city would have to have a "measurement" of general public support regarding what they would like to see it be.
"We'll get out here and try to find out what the consensus is of the general public. And Mr. Beneke has also made the comment that they are willing to work with us in any way possible to make these things happen," Sanders added.
Snow said now is not the time to concentrate on repurposing Thunder Bayou.
"I don't think we need to be looking at it right this very minute. I don't think we have time, really, to find a repurpose or to go through this process and we know that he has to be involved...we're looking at a month and a half before we have to finalize this budget," Snow said.
"Absolutely...if we're looking to pass this budget this month, we could possibly fund Thunder Bayou thirty days into the budget where we could see what these options are, what are you options on that?" Parks asked
"Well, I would like to see it open, at least through the summer and give us time to come up with remedies. Either to finally cut the expenses where it can operate with other part s of Parks and Rec and their revenues and receipts. Again, as a whole with Parks and Rec. That gives us time to study the repurposing and public forums, for citizens to come forward. Even doing surveys to see what they would like to see if we can't sustain it. I think everyone would agree the golf course was built at a status that at one time that now the city cannot support," Snow said."Now maybe only a small percentage of Blytheville residents use the golf course, but it is a golf course they could play if they wanted to."
Blytheville Police Chief Ross Thompson informed the committee that he now has 38 officers on payroll and one more has almost completed the process. When Thompson submitted his budget proposal he budgeted for 41 officers, but thus far the council has asked him to hold at 39. Thompson also informed the committee that as recently as 2005, the City of Blytheville had 58 officers budgeted and on payroll.
The Police Department isn't the only one facing reductions. The Fire Department is as well.
"Are you able to continue to provide adequate protection with what we have proposed here?" Parks asked.
"With the demanning of Station Three, I don't like it but it's the lessor of the evils. When this was first talked about, we were talking about maybe shutting down Station Two (Roy Head Fire Station). Because of the run volume, there is no way that could be done and I think you all agree. This new budget here does reflect the staffing of 31 personnel," Carney said.
Reductions in personnel will also affect the way BFD fights fires.
"I know that this is something that has never happened in the city...these are some hard times, obviously. I do want to bring to everyone's attention...with the possibility this reduction in personnel taking place; it is going to be compromising public safety. Not only for public safety, but also for my guys safety. I mean we've got to acknowledge that. Like I said before, to what extent I have no idea. The future will answer that question. I have talked the guys; we're going to have to change our way of thinking. We're going to have to change our way, as far as tactics. On approaching a house fire, we're going to have to make sure that we have safe numbers there before we can go through...we have a reputation of being one of the most aggressive fire departments in the state.... but we're going to have to change our way of thinking...we'll be responding from Station Two, of course, so there will be a little more lengthy response time...we're depending on our off duty personnel for our safety in numbers now," Carney said.
The committee repetitively asked Chief Carney for suggestions of how they could perhaps reduce the expense of off duty fireman, in order to keep all firemen on payroll despite the demanning of Station Three. It was even asked if schedule changes could accomplish the task.
Arkansas Professional Fire Fighters President Ed Jaros also addressed the committee offering help and insight. He warned about tinkering with firefighter work schedules because due to the Fair Labor Standards Act, if changes are not done just so, it can make the city lose its exemption and overtime will be paid for all hours over 40, rather than 53 now.
"One of the sources of revenue, a small source of revenue and obviously every source of revenue matters. By the way I have been over your proposed budget the last two weeks and to see if I could see anything and walking with the Chief, it's tight. I don't' think I've ever seen anything like it and I've ben looking at city budgets for the last 29 years. This isn't anything new for me but it's been a while since I've seen anything this tight. There isn't any fluff," Jaros said.
Jaros also informed the committee that Act 1345 of 2013 changed the reimbursement rate that fire departments can charge for responding to fires outside the city limits. It formerly held a $500 max, but now the ceiling is $1,000 per call (based upon an hourly rate of who is sent, how long they are there and what apparatuses are deployed).
"The biggest thing that I wanted to bring forward was that there are federal grants to fill and hold positions. It's through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Act grants. The grant period opens up in March of this coming year and should be finished in May. Its my understanding that the awards should be coming out the first of June...What I'd like to ask and propose is that you guys take a look at how we can possibly safe these position at least for the first part of the year so we can look at these grants...I don't believe in kicking the can down the road by any means because I don't think it solves the problem, but in this cause there is funding there and its available for cities that have dire needs and I think this city qualifies for dire need at this point," Jaros added.
When the meeting ended, the committee had come up with about $20,000 of the $140,000 in cuts needed.
The committee will meet once again on Monday evening after the other regularly scheduled committee meetings are concluded.
thenry@blythevillecourier.com