Hearing outlines city budget for 2017-18

A public hearing on the City of Ponca City was held Monday night as part of the City Commission meeting. The hearing is a statutory requirement of the budgeting process for the 2017-18 fiscal year, which begins July 1.

The process of setting the 2017-18 budget began in December 2016, followed by a departmental kick-off on Jan. 23, 2017. The budget has been discussed at four commission meetings, including two all-day open meetings.

City Finance Director Marc LaBossiere said the budget includes 30 funds, including the General Fund, PCUA Funds and others.

The proposed budget for 2017-18 includes:

• Revenue (for all funds) of $98,916,414
• Expenditures (for all funds) of $102,138,252

LaBossiere said the budget shows an increase of $1,135,450 (or 1.12 percent) from the prior year.

There are 391 full time employees, which is down one position at recycling center, which has contracted services from Supported Community Lifestyles.

Expenditure types include:

• Personal service, $29,265,872
• Material and supplies, $5,403,636
• Other services and charges, $37,644,262
• Capital $8,862,567
• Debt services $4,070,250
• Transfers $16,891,665

The General Fund budget shows total revenue of $21,813,265, along with a fund balance of $1,642,947.

Budgeted expenditures total $23,456,239. The leading departments’ appropriations include:

• Public Safety $13,368,894. (Police, Animal Control, Emergency Management, Communications – 911, Fire, and Ambulance)
• Public Works, $2,560,365
• General government, $4,137,185
• Park and Recreation, $2,075,822

Capital projects budgeted include three police vehicles, street and trail projects, maintenance of the Lake Ponca Dam, a new water well, a new landfill compactor, and electric system improvements.