Council approves $255M budget, CU seeks $33M in ice-storm bill

At the meeting, council approved the 2007-08 budget totaling $255.1 million, an 8 percent increase compared to the city’s 2006-07 budget.

Before passing the bill, council first approved an amendment that took $500,000 out of the budget and moved it into the Police Officers and Firefighters’ Pension Fund.

The council would have to contribute $4.5 million to the fund to bring it to the level suggested by the fund’s actuaries, according to Councilwoman Cynthia Rushefsky, but she called the donation a gesture of goodwill.

“It’s an important statement in terms of our commitment to meeting our financial obligations even in difficult years,” said Rushefsky, noting that the contribution was roughly the same as the amount the police volunteered to the fund in 2006 in lieu of a pay increase. “It’s a statement of our desire to work with the police and fire personnel to resolve past disagreements and work together for the welfare of all our citizens.”

The approved contribution was taken from money earmarked to help replenish city reserves following the January ice storm – an issue for which City Utilities asked for additional money at the meeting.

CU seeks an additional $33.5 million to pay for repairs and cleanup after the January ice storm. Virginia Fry, chairwoman of the Board of Public Utilities, said the money would cover most of the $36 million in costs – about $2.5 million is included in the current budget.

Fry told council that CU management is estimating about $20.3 million in reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency during fiscal 2007, while additional reimbursements from both FEMA and the State Emergency Management Agency in fiscal 2008 and 2009 are expected to bring in $7.8 million.

The ice-storm funding bill was one of four items Fry presented to council – the utility also plans to raise bus rates from the current 75 cents for adult cash fares to $1.25 by Oct. 1, 2009.

Additionally, CU proposed an updated Emergency Water Conservation Plan. The plan would start conservation measures at 60 percent of water storage capacity, compared to the current 50 percent, and would increase surcharges for excessive water use during conservation stages.

Jack Henry proposal

Council heard first reading of a proposal to rezone more than 36 acres at Battlefield Road and Highway 65 for development of a Springfield campus for Jack Henry & Associates.

The Monett-based banking software company is proposing a 550,000-square-foot office complex to be built in four phases. If council approves the rezoning, company officials told SBJ in May that construction would likely begin in early 2008, with the 145,000-square-foot Phase I to be complete by mid-2009.

About 200 employees work in Springfield for Jack Henry, spread among two leased spaces on Primrose and Montclair streets.

Tackling tickets

Council also considered a new method for tackling the problem of residents with multiple parking tickets.

If approved, parking services officers would have a frequently updated list of violators to check against when issuing a ticket. If a repeat violator is found, the officer could place a boot on the car’s tire, immobilizing it until the owner pays the outstanding tickets.

While the issue is not large in comparison to the city’s population – City Attorney Dan Wichmer said there are about 160 multiple violators – Chief of Police Lynn Rowe said the bill would create easier enforcement of the law.

Council is expected to vote on the Jack Henry and parking ticket issues June 18.[[In-content Ad]]