Rising Fuel Prices Damper Phenix City 2005-06 Budget
Posted on: Wednesday, 24 August 2005, 12:00 CDT
Aug. 23--Higher fuel prices are driving some rethinking of the proposed Phenix City budget.
The fiscal year 2005-06 budget, which is about $29.5 million, will be the topic of a public hearing tonight at 7 in the Phenix City Council chambers.
The city has $1.90 a gallon budgeted for gas. The city buys it wholesale and currently is paying $2.12 per gallon for gas and $2.03 for diesel fuel.
"We are prepared to do some conservation matters," City Manager Bubba Roberts said Monday. "There is the possibility some carry-home vehicles will be restricted."
Most of the city's departments have carry-home vehicles. The largest number is in the Police Department and Utility Department.
"On-call officers will have to have them 24 hours a day," Roberts said. "We will not hurt the police or fire departments. We are going to look at the administrative vehicles."
District 1 council member John Storey expressed concern about rising fuel prices.
"We are over budget right there before we adopt a thing," Storey said.
During the public hearing, Roberts said he will propose borrowing more than $11 million on two separate bonds:
-- $6.2 million for general improvements along Broad Street and the extension of the Phenix City Riverwalk. The Broad Street improvements would include enhancement of the median and moving of some power lines. Some of the transmission lines would be raised and the distribution lines that serve local customers would be buried. The riverwalk would be extended nearly two miles. The riverwalk currently ends at the 14th Street bridge. The extension would take the walking and biking trail above 30th Street and more than double its length.
-- $5 million for improvements at the city's water treatment facility off Summerville Road. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management has mandated improvements to the 70-year-old settling basins.
Among the other highlights in the proposed budget is a 2.5 percent cost-of-living raise for the city's 380 employees.
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Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
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