The Emporia City Commission is feeling optimistic about their financial position as the COVID-19 pandemic continues
During their study meeting Wednesday, city commissioners received a financial update from Raymond James Managing Director Greg Vahrenberg. According to the report the city of Emporia has seen significant financial growth over the past 15 years and is sitting in a “favorable” financial position at this time.
During the meeting, Commissioner Rob Gilligan stated the city’s general fund balance back in 2005 was $13,000. Gilligan stated this would equivalate to roughly eight hours of operational ability in today’s climate.
The city ended last fiscal year with a general fund balance of $3.8 million, a $3.7 million increase over the past 15 years.
Commissioner Becky Smith attributes the impressive increase to diligent spending practices by city commissioners.
City Treasurer Janet Harouff says not only is the increase impressive, but so to is the fact that the commission has managed that with little to no impact on the mill levy.
Vahrenberg’s update followed a separate financial update from city manager Mark McAnarney on KVOE’s Newsmaker segment Wednesday morning. To view that story click here.
In other business, commissioners resumed discussions regarding rehabilitation work on several sanitary sewer lift stations. Earlier this year, the city was looking to rehab and replace stations 1, 2, 5 and 15 and have since added stations 3 and 7 to that list.
Bruce Boettcher of BG Consultants says they would like to move forward with the design process for stations 1, 2 and 15 so they can be prepared to begin construction once the COVID-19 pandemic begins to ease. According to Boettcher the total cost of the work for the three stations would be $3.5 million and would take place over the next two years with completion anticipated by February of 2022.
Boettcher says the reason for moving forward on stations 1, 2 and 15 and not all six is due to the scope of work required at each station.
The Emporia City Commission will hold an action session next Wednesday via Zoom. The meeting will be viewable on the city’s Facebook.
