Airway Heights 2015 budget preserves, increases services

It’s budgeting season and the city of Airway Heights is working to have their balanced budget for 2015. Airway Heights City Manager Albert Tripp will submit a preliminary budget for 2015 at the Nov. 3 City Council meeting.

According to Tripp, the projected revenue for the current expense fund is $5.792 million with expenditures of $6.095 million. The beginning fund balance will be $775,000 while the estimated ending fund balance is $471,580.

Estimated revenues for the street fund come in at $363,900 and expenditures totaling $363,056. The water-sewer fund projected resources will be $4.36 million with expenses totaling $4.41 million.

The city’s preliminary 2015 assessed valuation estimate is $466 million, which is $10.5 million more than last year. Tripp said the new construction and population growth from won’t be added to the city’s assessed valuation until next year.

For the property tax levy, this year’s regular levy is $1,029,560 along with an existing $125,000 bond levy. The estimated total is $1.15 million. This number also includes the 1 percent increase in regular property tax, amounts for new construction and state assessed property.

The other levy for the city is the EMS levy, which will help fund emergency level medical services for the Airway Heights Fire Department.

“The majority of calls the Fire Department receives are EMS in nature,” Tripp said. “Very few are fire calls. The levy would help the department improve the level of service offered there.”

If the levy passes on the Nov. 4 ballot, it will raise property taxes 25 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. If that happens, Clerk-Treasurer Richard Cook said staff will adjust the budget ordinance to include the EMS Levy.

Tripp explained that part of the 2015 budget will focus on preserving and increasing city services.

“There are some proposed increased services in targeted areas,” Tripp said. “For example, the City Council created the senior and youth advisory committees earlier this year. This budget recommends a list of different programs for seniors for next year.”

Part of the 2015 budget will focus on emergency preparedness, which will be above what the city did last year, according to Tripp. The city is also looking at water quality improvements, with a specific project in mind for next year.

The city is rolling out a couple of projects next year that were paid with the 2014 budget, which includes an update to the city’s website and an economic proposal to bring more businesses to Airway Heights.

“We’ve made some investments with this year’s budget with economic development,” Tripp said. “That’s a priority that the community said is important to them.”

The city will hold public hearings at the Nov. 3 and Nov. 17 City Council meetings to discuss the 2015 budget, revenue sources and the consideration of raising property taxes. The council must adopt the budget by Dec. 1.

Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].