Declining sales tax leads council to make tough choices

“Love it or list it,” Kimball City Council member James Schnell said, regarding the Kimball Event Center at the July 19 Kimball City Council meeting, amid serious budget concerns.

“We are so strapped on our finances, we know now that the funding we would need to use almost all of our trust to try to redo the Event Center,” Schnell said. “Now, that funding is probably going to have to be redirected to help offset our share of the underpass project. I’ve been preaching for the last year either we love it or we list it.”

The operational budget for the Event Center is approximately $100,000, according to Kimball City Administrator Daniel Ortiz.

According to Kimball Mayor Keith Prunty, sales tax revenue in 2014 was nearly $800,000. Projections for the current year are not quite $400,000.

Other ideas discussed during budget meetings include relinquishing the City-owned building that currently houses Keep Kimball Beautiful and considering alternative options for the local library, landfill and electricity department.

“All of these ideas need to be openly discussed,” Schnell said. “One of our big bleeding things is the swimming pool, but I don’t think there is anybody who would sit up here and say that we will give up that.”

Options for the Kimball Public Library may include combining with the school district while garbage collection and landfill services could potentially be outsourced.

Additionally, cuts are projected for budgets across the board, including a $90,000 projected cut to Police Department budget, which is primarily fed by the more stable property tax revenue as opposed to sales tax according to Ortiz.

“We still need to come up with at least $100,000 in the General Fund to be able to fund Park and Recreation and the golf course, to meet our contractual agreement with the County,” Ortiz said.

Another concern for the council is the lack of public involvement and input during the budget process.

“I am glad James brought this to our attention because at our last budget meeting we did not have one person from the public (attend). At least tonight we have some people from the public,” council member John Morrison said. “These are things we can’t make decisions on tonight, but we sure need the input from the public.”

The dire circumstances were made clear when Morrison said, “If it comes down to whether we have an electrical department or we have a swimming pool that operates two months out of the year, and we only have the money for one of the two... We are going to have to make that decision. I’m not saying that is the decision we are looking at, but this is something we have to consider. I haven’t gotten any input from anybody.”

Kimball resident Kim Baliman, a former council member, asked if it was time to perhaps consider consolidating the Kimball Police Department and the Kimball County Sheriff’s Office, which Mayor Prunty said has been considered.

“I think that the Event Center is something that is needed, but I would strongly advocate getting that back on the tax rolls,” Baliman added. “Giving it away if you have to, to somebody who can put it to good use. I think the fitness center and the pool are huge, but there are some cuts that can be made there too, and I’m there every day.”

Also before the board:

Approved a bid for chip sealing on Kimball streets from TopKote of Yankton, S.D. in the amount of $4,500 plus $2.95 a square yard. Cost for the project will total approximately $75,000 for nearly 24,000 square yards including three blocks of State Street, two blocks on Second Street, South Elm from Fifth to Sixth streets, Maple and Sycamore Streets from Sixth to Eighth.

Approved $815.91 in Main Street Design and Improvement funds for A&L Sales and Service for repainting the exterior wall of the business located at 121 E. 2nd Street in Kimball.

Considered vacating a portion of right-of-way on Eighth Street at a citizen’s request. This matter was tabled for further consideration.

Received an update on a failed urge test at the local power plant. The facility was given time for repairs and a second test was scheduled.

Heard an update about Western Nebraska Economic Development and the Panhandle Area Development District.

Determined a property located at 700 S. Oak Street unsafe. This ruling allows the City to move forward with notification to property owners and abatement processes as defined in the Municipal Code.

Determined a property located at 914 W. Hwy. 30 unsafe. This ruling allows the City to move forward with notification to property owners and abatement processes as defined in the Municipal Code.

Considered placing liens against nuisance properties abated by the City of Kimball.