On Monday, KYUK is launching the new show City Corner - a weekly update on the goings-on at Bethel City Hall. KYUK's municipal reporter Christine Trudeau brings us an excerpt from the first show, where she sat down with Mayor Rick Robb to get the latest about what's going on at the city.
In an interview with Mayor Rick Robb Friday, we discussed a number of items that have hit the City Council’s agenda this past year, starting with a priority list of capital projects.
“So, every year we talk about capital priorities; we submit requests to the state and also send them to our federal delegation, although last fall we voted on four capital priorities, which was phase two of the institutional corridor project,” said Mayor Robb.
The other priorities included a new ladder truck for the Fire Department, the H Marker Lake Road, and finishing the small boat harbor bank stabilization project.
We also discussed the 2018 budget that passed at the last Council meeting on June 13. Several funds make up the overall budget, including the general fund that runs most of the city and includes the police department, the fire department, the city offices, and the city administration.
“That’s funded primarily by our sales tax dollars. We also get payment in lieu of taxes, transient business losses tax, alcohol tax, tobacco excise tax – those are all the main items, and then there are a few minor, you know, fees and permit fees that we pay,” said Mayor Robb.
Mayor Robb said that those run about $9 million. Then there is the Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund, which includes the sewer lagoon, water trucks, two water treatment centers, and all piping. This is now funded through user fees, which are bills paid by city residents.
“So when we have to go down to city hall and pay our water and sewer bill every year, that’s what pays for that,” said Mayor Robb.
In the past, says Mayor Robb, the fund had lost money: up to $500,000 every year for the city.
“This last two years is the first time it’s breaking even, or even gone forward a little bit,” said Robb.
There is also the Pool Enterprise fund, with 0.5 percent of sales tax going to help cover pool operations. There is also the Port Enterprise fund which runs the small boat harbor and maintains the port.
“When people bring stuff across the port, there’s a surcharge,” said Robb. “There is a half percent a gallon for all fuel that’s brought across the port surcharge, and that runs the port operations.”
Hear our full discussion on City Corner at our website, where we also discuss staffing at the Bethel Police Department and the active search for an interim Police Chief. We’ll also go in depth on this week’s agenda for the regularly scheduled City Council meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m.
Remember, you can submit general questions anonymously to City Corner by emailing news@kyuk.org.