HOT SPRINGS -- The Hot Springs Board of Directors will tonight consider a resolution to adopt the 2016 city budget and an ordinance to annex a large tract of land at the southwestern edge of the city.
The board will meet at 7 p.m. in City Hall, 133 Convention Blvd.
According to the proposed budget summary, total revenue for next year is projected to be $102,148,764, with expenses estimated at $104,083,671. The city's general fund is expected to have revenue of $21,969,842 with expenses of $22,878,789. Budget documents show that expected sales tax revenue of $12,576,047 will account for the majority of the general fund revenue.
The water fund is projected to have a revenue of $11,942,100, with water sales inside the city limits contributing $2.9 million and sales outside the city bringing in $4.1 million. Commercial water sales inside the city will add about $3.1 million, and about $1.3 million is expected from commercial water sales outside the city. Water fund expenses are expected to be $10,997,710.
The wastewater fund is expected to have revenue of $15,634,800, with sales inside the city bringing in $5 million, and sales outside the city bringing in $5.1 million. Commercial sales inside the city will add an estimated $3.7 million, with $1.1 million coming from outside the city.
Expenses in the wastewater fund are expected to be $16,091,448.
Revenues for the police and fire funds are projected to be $12,111,859 and $9,201,312 respectively, and the sanitation fund is projected to have revenues of $7,204,897 and expenses of $7,160,777.
The budget also provides for a total of 616 full-time employees and 10 part-time workers.
After conducting public hearings on Oct. 20 and Nov. 3 regarding the possible annexation of a 481-acre tract of land south of the city and west of Central Avenue, the directors will consider an ordinance to annex the enclave.
Planning and Development Director Kathleen Sellman said in her board action request form that the enclave is "territory entirely located within an unincorporated Garland County 'island' or 'enclave' otherwise located within the city's municipal limits."
"This is a significant area of land, surrounded by Hot Springs city limits on all sides, except where its boundary is Lake Hamilton," she said.
The state Legislature amended the statutes earlier this year to redefine enclave annexation exceptions to include situations where a navigable waterway would otherwise close the loop between municipal limits. About 985 people live in the proposed annexation area, according to the U.S. census figures.
If the board approves the annexation, all necessary urban services -- sanitation, fire, police and utility billing -- will begin in January. A temporary zoning classification of rural residential will be assigned to the area and existing lawful uses will be grandfathered, Sellman said in her board action form.
The area, if annexed, will generate about $245,312 in additional general fund revenue and a reduction of $168,759 in water and wastewater revenue.
During the public hearings, four people attended and said they were in favor of the annexation, while one person sent a letter and a city director spoke on behalf of a constituent. Sixteen people appeared before the board to voice their disapproval of the proposal, and one sent a letter. Ten of those speaking said they were property owners in the area.
Metro on 12/01/2015