Robertsdale Council passes 2020-21 budget

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ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — The City of Robertsdale will use approximately $600,000 in unused capital expenses from the 2019-20 budget year to turn a nearly half-million-dollar budget deficit into a more than $100,000 projected surplus for 2020-21.

On Tuesday, Sept. 8, the Robertsdale City Council passed its projected budget for the 2020-21 fiscal year, which begins on Oct. 1, including projected revenues of $24,258,981, with expenditures of $22,834,559 and total debt expenses of $1,904,248, a budget deficit of $479,826.

But in her presentation to the council, Robertsdale chief financial officer Ann Simpson said the city has a cash surplus of $600,162 from projects carried over from the 2019-20 fiscal year budget, leaving the city with a cash surplus of $120,336 for 2020-21.

Included among the projects are nearly $500,000 in road resurfacing projects carried over from 2019-20, and a $100,000 water expansion project with the East Central Baldwin County Water Authority. The city will also continue a $150,000 cash project in the 2020-21 fiscal year to renovate the PZK Civic Center.

The city will also carry over a $1.5 million cash project to construct an amphitheater at the site of the city’s utility complex. Construction is currently underway to construct a new utility complex on property the city owns north of the police station, a $500,000 cash project which is also being funded by a $2.3 million USDA loan.

In total, the budget includes $7,018,856 for capital purchases and special projects in 2020-21 including:

  • The purchase of two patrol cars for the police department, a $120,000 cash project.
  • The purchase of a platform truck and equipment for the fire department, funded by a state ad valorem tax for the fire department (the fire department has also applied for a grant to replace a pumper truck, which would be matched with tax funds), a total of $252,875.
  • The purchase of a tractor for the street department, a $45,000 cash project.
  • The purchase of two mowers for the parks department, a total of $31,000 in cash projects.
  • The purchase of a van for the George P. Thames Senior Center, which will be purchased through a $20,000 ALDOT grant.
  • The purchase of a truck for the city’s electrical department, a $32,000 cash project.
  • The purchase of a generator for the water department, a $50,000 project.
  • Repainting the north water tank, a $35,000 cash project.
  • The continuation of a project to install AMI automated meters for the water department, purchased through the State Revolving Fund, a total of $1,882,686.
  • A $45,000 CDBG sewer grant project.

Once again, the largest surplus is in the city’s electrical department with revenues of $9,593,000 and expenses of $6,149,331, along with debt payments of $489,531 for a surplus of $2,954,139, which balances a deficit in the general government fund of $2,303,667 with projected revenues of $6,796,300 and expenses of $8,488,116, along with debt payments of $611,851.

There are also slight budget deficits in the city’s electrical, gas, water, sewer and sanitation departments.

Projected revenues in the water department are $5,747,581, with expenses of $5,792,565 and debt payments of $324,516 for a projected deficit of $369,500.

The sewer department projects revenues of $1,499,100 with expenses of $1,563,395 and debt payments of $406,438 for a projected deficit of $470,733. Sanitation revenues are projected at $473,000 with expenses of $658,491 and debt payments of $71,912 for a deficit of $257,403. Gas revenues are projected at $150,000 with expenses of $182,662 for a deficit of $32,662.

In other business Sept. 8, the council:

  • Donated $650 to the Robertsdale High School Lady Bears basketball team.
  • Approved site plans for the Crosscreek subdivision lift station.
  • Voted to donate the two of the city’s dates at the Baldwin County Coliseum, March 19-20, 2021 for the Robertsdale High School Junior/Senior Prom.
  • Approved the purchase of a generator for the Fairground Road Water Plant at a cost of $45,850.
  • Accepted the donation of a swing from the Sunset Rotary Club to be placed on city property.
  • Appointed Sandra Darling to the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustments.
  • Approved a resolution to place a property lien in the amount of $8,722.52 for the demolition of a structure on Brewton Street.
  • Announced that a dedication ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 21 to place a plaque in Honeybee Park for Rex Aldridge, a longtime Robertsdale resident and city employee who was a founding member of the Baldwin County Beekeepers Association. Aldridge passed away in July of 2019 at the age of 98.