Surplus Revised Upward for Proposed U City 2013 Budget

With final approval of University City's proposed budget for the 2013 fiscal year approaching, the city's administration has revised its original esitmate surplus upward. 

City Manager Lehman Walker told the University City City Council at a work session Monday that the latest draft budget anticipates revenues will exceed expenditures by approximately $500,000, a more than $50,000 increase than previously expected. 

The purpose of the Monday meeting was to allow council members to suggest amendments or ask questions of the city's administrative staff ahead of officially approving the budget later this month.

Despite the surplus, Walker noted that University City still faces many fiscal challenges. Cheif among them is a declining population, which Walker said has sank 5.5 percent since 2000. He said this is responsible for a loss of approxmiately $400,000 in revenue. 

Walker attributed this year's surplus to money-saving efforts by city staff along with additional funds from grants. It is also the fourth year in a row the city has not given a cost-of-living increase to its employees. 

"We have just required departments to be more accountable and to reduce their spending where possible," Walker said. 

Check back with University City Patch later this month for more details and the final numbers for the city's proposed 2013 fiscal year budget.