Lake City Report - April 16, 2010
Money
and waste water top the list
Columbia County, FL (Posted April 18, 2010 10:25 am)
by City Manager Wendell Johnson and
staff
From City Manager Wendell Johnson
City Budget for FY 2011
City Manager Johnson:
I encourage the public to attend all budget
meetings and city council meetings. We have
staff available to answer your questions and
Lake City values your contribution.
The City Council initiated the budget review
process for Fiscal Year 2011 with its first
workshop on March 29, 2010. The next workshop
is scheduled for 6:00 p.m., Monday, April 19,
2010. The agenda will include a Mid-year Budget
Report and discussion of Budget Enhancement
Topics. (This report will be linked when
available)
The Sales Tax and Utility Bond issue is
progressing as planned. For information, there
are two main objectives with this initiative:
First -- to generate approximately $1.5
million in new revenue for “General Fund”
Capital Improvements; Second -- to repackage the
City’s “existing” Utility Debt and at the same
time, leverage approval of the $18 million
needed to fund the new Waste Water Treatment
Plant.
The Financial Consultant has been responding
to questions concerning the Request for Funding
Proposals, which are due on Monday, April 19,
2010. It is anticipated that the City will
receive between 8 and 10 proposals.
The City’s Bond Counsel has sent a letter to
the FDEP requesting consent on the refunding and
new money utility bonds.
Bond Council has prepared the necessary
sales tax and utility Bond Resolutions, which
will be presented for Council consideration on
May 3, 2010.
Kicklighter Waste Water Treatment Plant
(WWTP)
The Staff is moving forward with finalizing
the Engineer's Report by late May to early June.
We are on a fast track to structure the bond
issue and lock in the interest rates as quickly
as possible.
Soon, the Staff will advertise the Request
for Proposals for Engineering Services to
prepare the Final Design of the WWTP. This work
is expected to start during mid-to-late June
2010.
All elements of the funding and design
process should come together accordingly to
allow the City to begin construction on the new
WWTP in early 2010.
The City Staff Report is available in pdf format
here.
