Parks money added to new city budget

Dan Kulin

Wednesday, March 26, 2003 | 9:14 a.m.

Additional money for parks and swimming pool improvements and no property tax increases are the highlights of the proposed 2003-2004 Boulder City budget that City Manager John Sullard presented to the City Council on Tuesday.

The city's main operating fund, called the general fund, is projected to have revenues of about $17 million and expenditures of almost $16.6 million in the 2003-2004 fiscal year, which runs from July 1 through June 30, 2004.

Expenditures would be about $140,000 less than in the current fiscal year, thanks in part to not filling civil engineering and facilities maintenance worker positions left vacant by retirements.

Overall, the number of full-time employees working in general fund departments would go from 139 to 135 under the proposed budget, Finance Director Bob Kenney said.

The proposed budget includes $500,000 to continue improvements at Veterans Memorial Park and $640,000 for improvements, including changing the chlorination system, at the city's pool complex.

City officials said the pool improvements also could be used in a new pool complex, which is in the city's long-range plans.

The City Council is scheduled to vote on a final version of the budget on May 20.

Public hearings will be held on the budget before it is adopted. No dates for the hearings were announced Tuesday.