Cape budget cuts final list

The Cape Girardeau City Council has approved a final list of planned budget cuts, fund transfers and fee increases scheduled to take effect in the new fiscal year that begins July 1. The fee increases do not require voter approval. The list of items and the net annual savings by category:

Spending cuts

Cut some part-time positions and reduce general maintenance and portable bathrooms in the parks, $10,910

Reduce hours that Old Lorimier Cemetery is open to the public, $3,654

Eliminate part-time facility maintenance positions, $4,886

Lay off some part-time staff at A.C. Brase Arena Building, $1,691

Reduce hours of operation at Capaha and Central pools, $16,222

Reduce hours of operation at Osage Community Centre, $4,173

Eliminate one Municipal Band concert and spending for supplies, $2,000

Eliminate a (non-Municipal Band) concert at the park, reduce recreation programs and some part-time recreation staffing, $9,531

Reduce part-time staff and expenses for Shawnee Park sports complex, $5,057

Reduce street maintenance, $27,900.

Move public information office to city hall, eliminating $1,080 in rent

Eliminate city newsletter and mayor's Missourian Junior newspaper column, $4,100

Reduce the budget for the Vision 2020 civic group, $500

Reduce emergency management spending on restocking supplies, $1,000

Cut airport spending, including reducing winter hours for fuel service, $6,491

Reduce Historic Preservation Commission budget, $1,000

Cost transfers

7 Transfer storm-water operations from general fund to sewer fund and move miscellaneous pickup to solid waste fund, eliminating $372,251 in general fund expenses.

Planned fee changes, net gain

Increase city engineering/planning services overhead charges, $24,000

Raise parks and recreation fees 5 percent, $20,000

Increase monthly hangar rental charges from $150 to $165, $1,800

Raise fuel charges by about a nickel a gallon, $16,000

Net savings to general fund from spending cuts, cost transfers, fee increases: $534,246

Proposed changes to sewer fund

Change to postcard billing, saving $8,400

Pay for storm-water expenses out of sewer fund rather than general fund, costing $324,251.

Net cost to sewer fund: $315,851

Proposed changes to solid waste fund

Eliminate spring cleanup, saving $52,000

Eliminate a program that allows residents at times to dump trash free of charge at the transfer station, saving $16,000

Eliminate household hazardous waste collection unless paid for with a grant, saving $25,000

Change to postcard billing, saving $8,400

Move miscellaneous limb pickup from general fund to solid waste fund, costing $65,000

Net savings to solid waste fund: $36,400

Proposed changes to water fund

Change to postcard billing, saving $8,400

Net savings: $8,400

Source: City of Cape Girardeau.