By Linda Stinnett

 The Derby City Council established a nearly $40 million budget for its general fund at its meeting on Aug. 14.

The new budget is down slightly from City Manager Kathy Sexton’s recommended budget, by nearly $25,000, she said. That change comes from an equipment repair which is occurring immediately, lowering the carryover and budget authority for 2013. 

The budget shows expenditures planned in 2013 are down just over 1 percent, but the amount of ad valorem tax is up, also just over 1 percent. The tax rate – 47.34 mills – has stayed steady and is still the second lowest mill levy for a city in Sedgwick County, Sexton said. The city of Wichita is the only city with a lower mill levy.

“That’s a pretty good place for us to be,” she said.

The budget does reflect an anticipated $10,000 cut in funding from the county for the senior center. Sexton said the county previously funded Derby’s senior center with $115,000 and with the county announcing a 10 percent reduction, she is estimating it to be between $10,000 and $12,000.

The senior center has a total budget of $182,036 in 2013, Sexton said. She said staff is already working on methods to maintain services but stay within the new funding from the county.

Other highlights of the budget’s capital improvement plan include:

• Construction of Madison Avenue (Buckner west to Water): $1.4 million

• Derby Recreation Center remodel: $3.5 million

• Woodland Valley drainage: $200,000

• The Venue at Madison Avenue Central Park building remodel: $1.5 million

• Nelson Drive and Red Powell intersection construction: $100,000

• Rock Road design (Patriot to new Derby Middle School): $140,000

• Design of nutrient removal system at wastewater plant: $150,000

• High Park loop and control valve for water system: $325,000

• The city is working to reduce overtime and encouraging 36-hour workweeks. The 2013 budget includes 166 full-time and 23 part-time positions.

• The 2013 vehicle replacement plan is pared back to $227,600 for three police cars and one staff car - $112,000; Derby Dash Replacement - $69,600 (80 percent is grant funded); and two public works pickup trucks - $46,000.

Major improvements anticipated in years 2014-2017 of the CIP include: development of new parks, including Madison Avenue Central Park, Warren Riverview Park, and a new four-plex of ball fields; improve Nelson Drive intersections at Patriot and Meadowlark; upgrade wastewater treatment plant for nutrient removal; and widen and reconstruct Madison Avenue  from Derby High School east to High Park.

 

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