Budget Moving Quickly.

The Budget/Ways and Means Committee slashed approximately another million from the proposed budget Monday night. The cuts came mainly in the form of $740,000 for a road into the proposed industrial park located near Civil War Road and 71 Highway. An engineering study for the road, estimated to cost approximately $60,000, was left in the budget. The Parks and Recreation request for $112,152 in capital improvement funds was reduced to approximately $77,000. Other capital improvement projects accounted for the remainder of the cuts.

The resulting $6.5 million proposed expenditures still exceed the projected $5.5 million in revenues, but would leave $1.7 million in restricted reserves, and an additional $900,000 in general fund reserves. The proposed budget includes a $300,000 set aside for a future airport relocation if grant funding becomes available.

The fate of several storm water control projects is still under consideration. The Committee will not meet tonight as originally scheduled, but will discuss the Library hold harmless funds next Monday evening.

Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',

Although the Budget Committee is apparently leavin’ in the $300,000 set aside for a future airport, it is also apparent that there is little hope of a 90% grant from the Fed. The ordinance that created the airport relocation committee and set aside the money includes language that makes a 90% grant necessary before spendin’ the City money. If there is a real willin’ness to move forward on relocatin’ the airport, the conditions on the set aside funds should be revisited, eliminating the 90% grant stipulation one way or the other. Otherwise the funds are simply frozen with no possibility of moving the airport question off center.

An ordinance to extend the time frame for relocation from five up to ten years is in the works. If the Council is serious, an amendment to include a realistic finance arrangement may be needed.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Chamber of Commerce

& Fastrip

10 Good Reasons to Join the Chamber of Commerce

1. Networking opportunities are many with Monthly and Quarterly events and many special events.

2. Community support and involvement is an important part of membership.

3. Promotion of your business is simpler and less expensive when businesses come together to work on promotions that co-op resources.

4. Our committees not only work to benefit Carthage, but they have fun doing work that is important for the Chamber, its members, and the community.

5. Chamber-sanctioned special events are available to participate in such as the Maple Leaf Festival, Market Fair, Christmas Dinner Tours, Sidewalk Sales, etc.

6. The Carthage Chamber provides Internet Exposure through carthagenow.com. Our presence on the Web promotes Carthage as the ideal place to visit and live. Chamber members may call for information on how to obtain "mini-sites".

7. Being a Chamber member adds credibility to your business.

8. Your Chamber represents you by promoting support of the issues that are significant to your business.

9. Not only does your Chamber support education in the community though our Business/Education partnerships, we also look for opportunities to provide educational resources to our members.

10.There is strength in numbers and together we can accomplish much more for our businesses in the Carthage area.

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