Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Gurdon Budget Unchanged For New Year

In effect, Gurdon's budget for 2001 is the same the city had for 2000.

The Gurdon City Council, meeting in special session Monday, Jan. 29, voted to adopt this budget, but fine tune it as the year goes on.

The problem, Gurdon Mayor Rick Smith said, is the Christmas Day ice storm, and subsequent damage to trees and property has put everyone behind, including the city.

Because of this a more formal budget couldn't be prepared.

The council had no choice but to pass this budget, as the law requires cities to have working budgets by the end of January.

At the regular monthly council meeting on Jan. 22, the city's governing body amended the 2000 budget to reflect the actual figures of revenue and expenditures for Gurdon during the year.

These are the figures the council worked off of and approved for the 2001 budget, with no raises given to anyone.

According to the budget worksheet, the city's general fund has anticipated revenues of $366,277.77, with the total expenditures expected to be $75,230.

Expenses for the Gurdon Police Department were set at $255,300, with the Parks budget set at $1,475.

The Animal Control Department budget will be $24,900 for 2001, unless otherwise amended.

This leaves a net amount of $34,272.77 for the city's general fund, as these other expenses come from this category.

The Street Department will have a budget of $170,429 for the year, with a net of $6,629 left after the expected expenses are paid for.

Sales tax is expected to bring in $249,182.58, with $50,000 to be transferred to the street fund and $30,000 going to the general fund.

Expenditures from the sales tax are anticipated at $165,125, leaving a net balance of $84,057.58.

The net balance for the firemen's pension fund is expected to be $35,699.65 for the year.

Anticipated revenue for the solid waste budget is $108,311.62, while the expenses are thought to be around $88,000, leaving a net of $20,311.62.

For the cemetery fund, the anticipated revenue is expected to be $16,027.60, with $8,627.60 left after expenses are paid.

Revenue from municipal court is expected to be $3,579.50, with this amount to be paid out through the court's clearing account, leaving a zero balance.

The anticipated revenue for capital improvements is $53,083.03,with expected expenses of $14,000, leaving a net balance of $39,083.03.

In the city fines II account, the anticipated revenue is $19,743.14, with an expected net balance of $18,743.14 left once bills are paid.

The municipal building fund revenue is expected to be $219,816.58, with all of it to be spent, leaving a zero balance.

Improvements to be seen from this fund include an extra bay for the fire department, a drive through window for the water department and paving the City Hall parking lot.

The city has $69,709.01 left in its contingency fund, and expects to add $2,000 to it this year. This fund's ending balance is expected to be $71,709.01.

The council heard a report from the personnel committee, recommending Andy Williams be promoted from part-time police officer to full-time officer as a vacancy existed in the Gurdon Police Department.

It also heard from the cemetery commission concerning the mapping of Rose Hedge Cemetery.

The council was told the entire cemetery had been mapped out, with every grave site and plot market out.

The commission also has a list of everyone currently buried in the cemetery.

This map was compiled by someone outside of Gurdon.

The site for pauper burials will be near Smithton Road, by the Entergy substation.