The Kiowa City Council met for a special meeting last Thursday evening for just over an hour to discuss the city's 2018 budget proposed by City Administrator Lou Leone. All members attended including Mayor Brandon Farney and councilmen Bill Watson, R.L. Simpson, Russell Molz, Brian Hill and Tom Wells.
The administrator told the council this modest increase, .402, would mean an increase of $4/year on a $103,000 property. Another example is a $1.76/year on a $45,000 house.
Leone said the budget remains about the same as last year. However, he included $10,000 to start work on the curb and gutters. Leone said part of this project includes trying to switch the ends of sidewalks to ramps for more ADA accessibility and also for strollers, bicycles, etc. When it was brought to his attention how the restrooms at the community building need better ADA accessibility, Leone said that is also a priority.
The administrator listed individual departments and how a slight increase could help them – for example, adding $3,000 to the fire department to help them apply for a FEMA grant to help pay for the stuff they use. “We're trying to make our fire department ready.”
In the utility funds, Leone said he's budgeted for replacement of transformers and poles. The city has 900 poles. He said poles last 25 to 30 years. He has a goal to do a conversion. He said the recent huge wind storm cost between $30,000 and $40,000 when all the crews were paid.
The administrator went through many budgetary details and said he hopes they will not have to do an amended budget.
The council agreed his projected budget is good and they'll go with that. The City of Kiowa's 2018 Budget Hearing will be at the beginning of their regular August meeting.
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