Although city revenue collections are lagging behind projected rates at this time in the fiscal year, Finance Director Joey Fuqua told the Henderson City Council on Monday that work on the recommended FY 2025-26 budget is coming along and should be ready for to present to Council at its May 12 meeting.
Roughly 28 percent – about $2 million of a projected $8 million – from a category called “various revenue – has been collected so far. Responding to a question from Council Member Garry Daeke, Fuqua explained that the category includes a number of different licenses and fees paid to the city.
Water revenues are at 55 percent and sewer revenues are a bit lower at 48 percent.
“The impact of the cyberattack has seriously impeded our ability to capture real-time numbers,” Fuqua said, referring to an apparent computer bug that forced the city to shut down key computer programs including water bill payments.
Fuqua said his team has been “working diligently” to shore up all of those accounts and get the infrastructure back into place.
Last year’s budget required $4 million from the fund balance, and Fuqua said this year’s budget is “contingent on some very important variables” that should get firmed up in the next week or so when March and April revenues are finalized.
Fuqua said this year’s budget is shaping up to be conservative, with increases due mostly to inflation. There could be a bit of a cushion in the area of capital improvements due to the fact that the city will be retiring several loans.
The Council approved a schedule of six budget work sessions that will take place between the May and June meetings.
A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for Tuesday, May 27 beginning at 6 p.m.
There were a couple of matters before the Council that pertain to the water and sewer system – one involved granting access along Rock Mill Road at Martin’s Creek pump station through an easement to landlocked property adjacent to the pump station.
Another matter involved an application for money from the State Revolving Fund to make improvements at the Sandy Creek lift station and force mains. W.K. Dickson is submitting the application on the city’s behalf, but needed the approval of the Council.
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