Bella Vista's projected budget for 2016 is approximately $2.6 million more than 2015, according to preliminary budget documents provided by Mayor Peter Christie.
City Council has yet to vote on the budget, but Christie noted that the numbers could change as aldermen review the proposed budget.
The budget shows total revenue and expenses of $18.39 million -- with $14.42 million from the general fund and $3.97 million from the street fund.
To balance the budget, Christie proposes spending $409,461 from reserves -- noted as recognition of prior years savings -- on a new ambulance and furnishings and equipment for the new Street Department building and fire station No. 4.
"(Former mayor) Frank Anderson built a nice foundation and now we're building a house," Christie said.
Christie wants to make communications manager a full-time position and add a part-time accounting clerk. Other new positions include trails coordinator, business development manager, children's librarian and an additional building inspector.
Three new firefighters will be hired to round out the 12-person company at Fire Station No. 4, which is scheduled to open in the spring, Christie said. Four firefighters will work three 24-hour shifts at the Highlands Gate station, a 9,200-square-foot facility with space for six bedrooms and three bathrooms.
The $2.2 million fire station is under construction at the intersection of Forest Hills Boulevard and Buckstone Drive.
In the Police Department, payroll will increase 7.5 percent for police officers, Christie said. Police Chief Ken Farmer's salary will not increase.
The Street Department will see three new positions and a 9- to 10-percent payroll increase. The department's pay raise is comparable to other positions and departments in northwest Arkansas, according to budget documents.
Mike Button, Street Department superintendent, will see a raise, Christie said.
Christie said the pay raises for both departments are part of his recruit and retain strategy, which seeks to draw more quality employees to Bella Vista who will stay once they're hired.
Both the police and street departments have been dogged by attrition, Christie said. There are no plans to add more police officers, Christie said.
The additional personnel and pay raises increase payroll from $6.2 million in 2015 to $7.3 million in 2016.
The city will weather a 12-percent increase in its insurance rates. The city expects to spend $1.8 million to cover the increase, up from $1.6 million it spent in 2015.
Meanwhile, to finance the city's capital building projects, Christie has proposed pulling from the reserves to help cover the costs of the new buildings for the Street Department and Fire Station No. 4.
There currently is $8.3 million in reserves, Christie said. The Street Department building will be allocated $592,000 while approximately $1.9 million will go towards the fourth fire station. Another $22,000 will be earmarked for a new dump truck for the Street Department, while roughly $409,461 will go towards street repair.
The $460,000 expected from a recent millage increase approved by the council will be also be used for street repair.
The budget shuffling should leave the reserves with $5.3 million, which Christie says is adequate.
Christie estimates the city needs about $3.3 million to operate for three months under an emergency, and that would still leave $2 million in the bank.
Christie says there's too much data to post the preliminary budget online, but the public is free to come by City Hall, 101 Town Center, and review it in person.
City Council will have a work session at 5:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 14, inside the conference room at City Hall.
General News on 11/25/2015