KWCH - Kansas News and Weather - Street Maintenance Reduced to Balance Wichita's Budget

Street Maintenance Reduced to Balance Wichita's Budget

by Kim Hynes (WICHITA, Kan.)

The City of Wichita reduces its budget for the second time this year. The city council voted Tuesday to cut the budget by another $900,000. The city says the changes are needed because sales tax and gas tax revenues are lower than anticipated.

Sales tax and gas tax are down more than $2 million.  To make up some of that difference, the city is taking back money designated for street maintenance.

Each year the city budgets about $6 million for street maintenance but for 2009, $8.5 million was budgeted.  The public works department was excited for the additional money because it says at least $10 million is needed to maintain streets at their current levels.  But with the budget shortfalls, the city cut $1 million in July and the rest of the money right now. 

The 2009 city budget is now $200 million. It originally was $208 million and was reduced to $202 million in July. The changes were made because of declining revenue due to the economic downturn.

The city says this budget reduction shouldn't have much of an impact on the city. Director of Finance Kelly Carpenter says they'll continue to monitor hiring and reduce seasonal staff.

Carpenter says they're also hopeful they can transfer funds from the fleet budget because gas prices were lower this year. She says unless there's a big snow or ice storm before January, the city should break even this year.