Finance Committee Approves Jonesboro Budget

At least nine months of work came down to several minutes Monday night as a key Jonesboro City Council committee approved the city’s proposed 2015 budget.

The council’s finance committee voted by voice vote to approve the budget, which would fund city government from Jan. 1 until Dec. 31 next year.

The budget is expected to have anticipated revenues of $41.6 million and expenditures of $41.5 million, leaving a difference of $122,787.

The budget also includes a two-percent cost of living adjustment for all city employees, a $5.84 per family per month increase in insurance premiums as well as funding all city departments.

City finance director Ben Barylske said city officials began the year looking at a $7 million loss in revenue due to a special election earlier this year.

Jonesboro voters on Aug. 12 voted 612-348 to remove a 2010 half-cent tax from the books which went toward police and fire protection.

Barylske said city department heads then went to the drawing board to make up the difference or decide what was needed more.

“With $7 million out, we had to cut,” Barylske said, noting officials made a list of what was most important for their departments.

Barylske said the city will use its $31 million in reserves to plug holes in the budget at least for the next two years, until police and fire retirement payments and payments to the Legacy Landfill are off the books.

REVENUES AND EXPENSES
City officials also unveiled their anticipated revenues and expenses for 2015.

According to the proposed budget, over three quarters of the revenue (78.6 percent) is expected to come from sales taxes, property taxes and state aid.

The vast majority of expenses, 57 percent, will go toward police and fire protection with another 27 percent going toward streets and operating city government.

Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin said he believes the revenues will see an increase in 2015, in part due to city permit requests.

Perrin said the city has seen an average of $15 million a month in building permits, with 70 percent of those coming from commercial projects.

Perrin told the committee he expects future growth in Jonesboro to be centered near the Johnson Avenue to Farville Curve area of town.

In the past year or so, NEA Baptist built a $400 million hospital in the area while other businesses like Fat City Steak and Grillhouse have sprouted up.

Perrin said casino online there is also anticipated growth near Arkansas 226 in west Jonesboro. Construction has continued on the road, which links Jonesboro to U.S. 67.

RAISES AND COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
The committee also heard from two residents about the COLA issue and a plan to hire a communications director for the city.

Phillip Cook of Jonesboro said he was concerned over the amount of the raises, especially for police, fire and parks employees.

“I will be a thorn in your backside on this. Because I feel strongly about it,” Cook told the committee.

Harold Carter of Jonesboro asked about the communications director position.

Carter asked the committee about the job description as well as the salary.

Perrin said the person, who would make between $43,000 and $67,000, would do a variety of things including speech writing, website development and serving as a spokesman for the city.

“They would work with about 20 department heads. It is much more than just writing press releases,” Perrin said of the job. “They will work with the public and civic clubs to help get the information out.”

The position is expected to be discussed Tuesday at the council’s regular meeting.

The budget is also expected to be placed on the first reading Tuesday. If the first reading is approved, council members will meet Dec. 29 in a special meeting to discuss the budget further.