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:
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: