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Preliminary numbers show the city is on target with its anticipated revenues and expenditures.

The Palm Coast City Council got its first glimpse of budget season at Tuesday’s regular meeting when Finance Director Chris Quinn said the city is right in line or just below the operating funds.

The city’s $26 million general fund is tracking to be about $250,000 less in revenues than the city anticipated, according to Quinn.

The second-largest budget, the $30 million utility fund, is about $300,000 short in terms of revenues, Quinn added, but noted the expenditures for departments are at or below budget.

“When you’re talking about $200,000 or $300,000, you’re talking about tiny, tiny amounts with fluctuations,” he said. “For the most part, we can say we’re right at or just below operating funds.”

City Manager Jim Landon echoed Quinn, adding: “The city is holding the line. ... Anytime we’re seeing a decrease in the revenue, we’re having a corresponding decrease in expenditures.”

While Landon said “looking good” may not be the appropriate terminology, the city is where it anticipated it would be at this time last year.

“(We) are very pleased with the departments who are monitoring this to make sure we stay within our budgets,” he said.

Budget discussions will continue over the next three months. The tentative schedule calls for a city revenue presentation at the July 3 meeting. Then a July 10 budget workshop will highlight the general fund. The proposed maximum millage rate will be set July 17.

First and second public budget hearings will take place in September.

Historical Society seeks permanent home
The Palm Coast Historical Society has moved throughout town since it began, but Art Dycke, city historian, told the City Council on Tuesday that the group wants a permanent home.

Former City Councilwoman Mary DiStefano also spoke and said the location of the organization will translate to success.

The Historical Society looked into purchasing the home at 3 Casper Drive — which they say is the first home ever built in Palm Coast.

But representatives said Tuesday that they are open to other options, ideally where they can be “visible,” DiStefano said. One option is to move to City Marketplace, she added.

Mayor Jon Netts asked city staff to place the discussion of a permanent home on the June 26 workshop agenda.

Bounty for Business approved
The City Council approved final guidelines for the Bounty for Business program — a concept that provides cash rewards for relocating, expanding or bringing in new businesses to Palm Coast.

The program was the brainchild of City Councilman Frank Meeker.

The guidelines were approved 3-1. Mayor Jon Netts dissented, and City Councilman Bill Lewis was absent.

“I still don’t believe you can demonstrate a cause and effect,” Netts said after his vote against the program. “Secondly, I have a problem using taxpayer dollars to incentivize competition for existing businesses.”

For details of the program, see www.palmcoastobserver.com.

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