By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Members of the St. Francis County budget committee began the process of balancing a budget for the 2003 year during a meeting Tuesday at the St. Francis County Courthouse.
Committee members began the night facing a deficit of close to $1 million but were able to reduce that figure considerably. In a summary of revenues and expenditures compiled by elected officials and presented to justices, figures showed the projected revenue at $2,346,600 for 2003, appropriations for the same period totaled $3,262,635.77 leaving a deficit of $916,035.77. Justices were then told by St. Francis County Treasurer Ann Harbin that a surplus of close to $400,000 in revenue could be added from a surplus in the municipal revenue account.
"In order to keep our accounts with Forrest City accurate for the District Court building, we've started paying them on a monthly basis for our portion and our costs. We started a non-general municipal account to make those payments, but since that money actually goes into general, any money that is left over at the end of the month is then transferred into general. I didn't add it as revenue because the money originally goes to a non-general account. But it is general money and should be counted as revenue," Harbin said.
The additional revenue cut into the deficit leaving committee members with a $516,035.77 deficit. That number was quickly reduced, when Justice Regan Hill suggested that if elected officials compiled a budget based on their 2002 spending, and the projected revenues of $2.7 million that a balanced budget wasn't far from being attained.
"In 2002, all county offices will actually operate on about $2.8 million and we have been able to keep the county running. If we take the money actually spent this year for 2003 and then look at our projected revenues, we're only about $100,000 from balancing this thing for next year, and that's without having to touch any of our trust fund money or anything else," Hill said.
Hill cautioned justices, however, that there are still areas in the budget that will have to be adjusted before a budget could be balanced.
"This puts us real close but there are still some areas that we will have to attack. We have to know if we're going to continue to get funding from the different accounts that we used this year to help shore us up and there are some other areas that we have to look at," he said.
Justice Henry Wilkinson agreed with Hill, suggesting that justices pass a balanced budget for 2003, then use the bi-monthly formula that was used this year for next.
"My thoughts are that we should plan a balanced budget based on last years expenditures and the projected revenue. From there I think we should use the two-month budget for 2003 as we did in 2002. The way we did it this year was a success and I just don't think we should mess with that success," Wilkinson said.
Justices will meet again on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. to discuss the budget further.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
A plat request for the addition of a private drive off of Lindaeur Road and concerns about local businesses maintaining a buffer zone were the topics of discussion at the regular meeting of the Forrest City Planning Commission on Tuesday afternoon.
Developer Dan Clark and engineer Paul Gunn presented the members with a request to add a private drive to be called Lindaeur Cove that will connect three residential lots to Lindaeur Road.
"There will be three different driveways, one to each lot, coming off of one 80 foot drive from Lindaeur," explained Clark.
Clark added that the three owners of the lots will be equally responsible for all repairs. Clark also said he would consider putting covenants in the deeds that will ensure that if the property is sold that the drive would not come under city control.
Chairman Danny Capps requested that Clark and Gunn check on getting street lights and a fire hydrant installed if necessary before the next city council meeting. Clark and Gunn agreed, and with that reassurance, the commission voted unanimously to approve the preliminary plat for Lindaeur Cove.
Capps brought to the attention of the commission complaints from residents in the Washington Heights area. The complaints center around two local businesses that have allegedly not been maintaining the required 20 foot buffer zone between their lots and the residential lot behind them.
"It was brought to my attention that the businesses located at 2040 and 2010 North Washington have let the up keep of their landscape buffer zones fall behind. We are not trying to harass them, we just want them to comply with the city ordinance. Our ordinance is kind of vague, but I think landscaping is more than rocks and tree stumps."
The members voted to ask Interim City Attorney Chris Morledge to draft a letter stating that the two businesses need to maintain the up keep on the buffer zones.
The Forrest City Planning Commission meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
The St. Francis County Museum will seek additional funding from the Forrest City City Council in the near future.
According to Laura Mazzanti the director of the museum and Chairperson Rush Beavers, a request of $12,000 a year for utilities and programs will be presented at the first council meeting after the election.
"We are asking both the county and city to contribute to our budget in the coming year," Beavers said. "This is the first time we have asked the city for benefits. We are in the county, but if we are located in the city, it stands to reason that they help us out by contributing."
Mazzanti echoed Beavers' point, "The (Forrest City) school district sends students here for our programs several times a year. It's not fair to ask a city like Hughes for funding when they don't have the same access that Forrest City has."
Mazzanti then told the board that letters have been sent to all city council members and to the mayor about the request. Mazzanti was told that no city budget matters will be discussed until after the Nov. 5 election.
Mazzanti then updated the members on several upcoming events to be held at the museum.
"The Road Rally will be held on Nov. 9 and we are still looking for volunteers. I believe that the Junior Auxiliary will be helping out, but we are still in need of more help. Also on Nov. 11 we'll add the federal prison in a display on their grounds that will honor veterans.
"We have the Halloween tours coming up on Oct. 29, and 31. We may have to cut out the tours on the 31 because some of the actors can't make it on that day."
Beavers suggested that they increase the hours of tours on the 29th and cancel the tours on the 31st. The new hours for the Haunted History tours will be announced at a later date, according to Mazzanti and Beavers.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the last entry in a three-part series on the local effects of proposed Amendment 3, which would eliminate the sales taxes on food, medicine and soft drinks. The series outlines how the county, Forrest City and the Forrest City School District would be impacted by the loss of revenue. Today's interview with Forrest City Mayor Larry Bryant focuses on how the measure would impact the city of Forrest City.)
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, voters across the state will go to the polls to determine whether the sales tax on food, soft drinks and medicine will stay on the ballot via Amendment 3. According to Forrest City Mayor Larry Bryant, a vote in favor of repealing the sales tax would force cuts in city services and could mean changes in fire and police services throughout Forrest City.
"Amendment 3 is a proposal that if it was all that it was meant to be would be a good idea, but as it is written the effects of passage would be devastating to cities, counties and school districts. In the past I have been a supporter of repealing the sales tax, but you have to have a revenue source that replaces that lost income and this bill doesn't provide for any," Bryant said.
Bryant answered a series of questions on Amendment 3 and his answers are as follows:
How much will Amendment 3 cost the Forrest City School District?
"According to figures from the Arkansas Municipal League, Amendment 3 could cost cities the size of Forrest City as much as 30-percent of their revenue or close to $1 million. Of our $7 million annual budget we get approximately $4 million from or about 60-percent of our general revenue funds from sales tax so if the measure is approved it would be devastating."
How will the losses be offset?
"The city council would have several different options to look at if this passes. Since the 1980's the council has kept from raising property taxes, but they would have to take a look at it. There would also have to be consideration for a wheel tax or an increase in the fees for receiving information from the police department. We might have to institute rules like some cities currently have where you have to pay a fee when the fire department comes out and those a things that we don't want to have to do but we have to look at if this is passed."
What services would citizens lose if Amendment 3 passes?
"There would be across the board cutbacks and I've spoken with the council about this, but we haven't put pencil to paper and they haven't indicated what there preferences are. I do know that police and fire services would be the last things touched but really we would have to get a lot of input from the citizens telling us what they would like to see cut. Forrest City has as good a service pro gram as any city in this state of the same size and we'd like to see that continue.
The overall impact of passing Amendment 3 would be devastating, but because we've been approximately 15-percent under our budget each year of my tenure, we would be able to offset some of the loss, but we definitely couldn't stand a 30-percent revenue hit."
How are you encouraging voters to vote against Amendment 3?
"I'm advising people to vote against this measure because it's based on the thoughts of one person who paid over $100,000 to get petitions signed so that this could get on the ballot. It's not the grassroots effort that it's built up to be. It's an emotional issue playing on voters emotions to want to get rid of taxes.
Amendment 3 is telling the low income and the elderly that it will help them by removing taxes. For those people that are using government assistance and Medicaid, it's not going to help them because they aren't currently paying any sales tax. It won't help the elderly with prescription drug costs, because in Arkansas, there are no taxes on prescription drugs. It would only remove the taxes from over the counter drugs. It will actually hurt those on Medicaid because it will cost this state over $120 million in federal funds because of the loss of funding from the soft drink tax. This measure would hurt cities, counties and school districts statewide.
I would like for voters to think long and hard about whether it hurts to pay a little at a time as we currently are or instead have to pay a lump sum through increase property taxes or other ways to recoup the money. I wouldn't want to risk sending Arkansas back to the dark ages."
Palestine's yet to be named fall festival will take place Saturday, Oct. 26, with several events for the entire family.
Among the many contests to be held this Saturday is naming the festival. The winner will receive a free T-shirt.
The event kicks off with a BBQ cookoff, patriotic singing and the opening of all booths at 8 a.m. followed by a Pet Parade at 9 a.m., an archery contest at the ball park and cake walk at the old fire department at 10 a.m. First, second and third prizes will be awarded in both the parade and archery contest.
At 11 a.m., bingo in the courtroom and a gospel singing will be held. The judging for the BBQ cook off will be held at 11:30 a.m. with first, second and third places selected.
An arm wrestling contest, greased pig contest and duck calling contest will take place at 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. respectively.
Entertainment for the night begins at 4 p.m. with square dancing. The dancing is followed by a "Minnie Pearl" program by Gussie Michaelis and Gay Roberts at 5 p.m., a Womanless Beauty Contest at 6 p.m. and an amateur hour at 8 p.m.
The evening wraps up with a street dance from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. Drawings will be held in the intermission for a 12 gauge shotgun, a Trax deer stand and a Sanyo 19" TV.
Throughout the day, cycle riders will have an exhibit and a silent auction will take place for items including a chain saw, pair of hunting boots and a hand-made quilt.
To register for an event or to purchase tickets for any of the drawings, call the Palestine City Hall at 870-581-2156 or 870-581-2489. Entry forms to submit a name for the festival are available at the city hall or on the day of the festival. The winner will be announced on Monday, Oct. 28.
As of early this morning, 278 St. Francis County voters took advantage of early voting.
Early voting continues until Monday, Nov. 4 from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The General election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 5 from 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m..