TEXARKANA, Ark. - Solid budgets and major projects were among topics of the Texarkana mayors' State of the City talks Thursday.
Mayor Allen Brown of Texarkana, Arkansas, and Mayor Bob Bruggeman of Texarkana, Texas, updated Chamber of Commerce members over breakfast at First United Methodist Church.
Brown walked the audience through the various parts of the city's recently approved budget, starting with its main portion, the general fund. He noted that about three quarters of general fund revenues come from three sources - sales taxes, property taxes and utility franchise fees - while paying the Police Department, Fire Department and contractual services consumes the majority of general fund expenditures. The new budget includes a 0.5% cost of living raise for police and firefighters, in addition to the 2% raise approved earlier this year.
Arkansas-side sales tax revenues have increased each month this year except one, partly because the city now collects sales taxes on online sales, Brown said.
For the first time in years, the budget pays for capital improvements that will include $50,000 for 10 complete camera systems for the Police Department, $150,000 for five new Police Department patrol cars, $100,000 for a new Fire Department brush truck, $286,000 for streets and drainage, and $229,000 for economic development.
"Everywhere I go, people want to compare our side of town with the Texas side of town. I don't do that," Brown said. But he did point out that according to both cities' budgets, the Texas side has about $17 million more to spend this year than the Arkansas side has.
Brown also touched on the Texarkana Water Utilities budget, noting that revenues are down $500,000 this year because abundant rain caused fewer people to water their yards.
Major projects planned for the Arkansas side in the next year include an $885,000 upgrade to the Animal Care and Adoption Center, extending U of A Way street improvements to Clay Pit Road and renovating the former Boys and Girls Club building on Legion Drive using a federal loan guarantee program.
Bruggeman focused less on the Texas side budget, more on the city's recent accomplishments and forthcoming projects.
The extension of Gibson Lane from University Avenue to Pleasant Grove Road, including a 500-foot bridge over Wagner Creek, as well as the construction of a replacement fire station at University and McKnight Road, will be among the biggest projects of the year, Bruggeman said. A recent bond issue will provide $6 million for the Gibson project and $1 million for the station house.
The Texas-side budget also sets aside funds - $150,000 - to support economic development, specifically the AR-TX REDI organization.
Bruggeman touched on the Hotel Grim's renovation, improvements to Spring Lake Park and Kidtopia park, a recent federal grant of $174,000 to fund the Farmers' Market's cultural foods program, and early payoff of more than $5 million in bonds, decreasing the city's debt service and increasing cash flow by about $1 million a year.
The Chamber staged the event with help from sponsors CHRISTUS St. Michael, Farmers Bank and Trust, CenterPoint Energy, and Commercial National Bank. Johnny B's restaurant provided food.