Carson City board to look at revenue, budget

City revenue projections and work toward finalizing Carson’s City’s budget are on the Board of Supervisor’s horizon next week and later in May.

On Thursday, a city revenue outlook projecting about $68 million in general fund money and a preliminary budget of about that amount next fiscal year are on tap, according to Finance Director Nick Providenti, providing him an opportunity for final guidance. Adoption of the spending guide is anticipated two weeks later. The general fund is the part of the revenue/budget picture based mainly on city sales and property taxes.

Among matters Providenti shared heading into Thursday’s meeting is revenues look relatively strong compared with recent past years, and there should be $875,000 for general fund capital spending, along with $850,000 in contingency funds. Capital improvement spending out of the general fund in recent years has been lean to nonexistent, which prompted Providenti to comment on the higher amount for Fiscal Year 2015-16.

“We haven’t done that in, probably, five years,” he said.

Also on Thursday’s agenda is the capital improvement program, enterprise funds and an item calling on the board to provide guidance on initiating the process of changing connection fees for water and sewer in the aftermath of recommendations from the city’s Utility Finance Oversight Committee. The workload, however, doesn’t end there Thursday.

Another item calls for the board to approve a contract designating Q & D Construction, Inc., of Sparks to provide CMAR pre-construction services for the downtown streetscape project through mid-year 2016. CMAR stands for construction manager at risk. The city’s downtown streetscape design and construction project is estimated to cost about $11 million overall.

Another matter involves the next step toward the Schulz Ranch subdivision project at the city’s south edge. The item is introduction on first reading of an ordinance approving the Schulz Ranch Maintenance District Development Agreement, which is expected to be approved finally come May 21. Schulz Ranch is a phased subdivision with 424 lots envisioned eventually, 100 in the first phase.

Among other items set for board action Thursday are approval of a Parks and Recreation Commission recommendation authorizing free Aquatic Center use by veterans with 100 percent military service-connected disabilities, and appointment of Stan Jones, co-owner of The Purple Avocado, as the city Visitor Bureau’s board member who will serve on the city’s Cultural Commission.