La Veta Town Board passes budget

by Carol Dunn
LA VETA— In a unanimous vote, the La Veta Town Board passed its 2013 budget at its December 4 meeting.
La Veta’s population is approximately 850, and the town operates on a modified accrual basis of accounting.
General fund expenditures of $743,494 will include funds for salaries, legal and audit, office, telephone, insurance, transportation, utilities, treasurer’s fees, emergency reserves, building and zoning compliance, publication and codification costs, capital outlay, airport expenses, police and safety, judge’s salary, animal shelter care, training, maintenance, street and sidewalk improvements, museum expenses, recycling, senior citizens programs, park and tree board, museum improvements and historic preservation.
Budgeted revenues of $1,333,004 for the general fund will be derived from a tax mill levy of 4.99 mills ($48,510) which will not change in 2013. There are also county and town taxes of 4% including: cigarette tax, motor fuel tax, highway user tax, franchise taxes, court and traffic fines, lease payments and business, contractor and liquor license fees.
The budgeted water fund expenditures of $770,158 will cover salaries, administration, fuel, supplies, distribution piping, metering equipment, utilities, engineering and loan payments. Budgeted revenues of $1,042,583 for the water fund will come from water service fees, tap fees, interest income and connection fees. The water system serves 578 customers.
Sewer fund expenses of $470,579 will include salaries, repair and maintenance, utilities, administration, legal and audit, loan payments and miscellaneous. Revenues of $708,682 will be from sewer service fees, tap fees, interest income and connection fees. There are 557 sewer customers.
The Francisco Fort Museum operates on revenues from a portion of the town’s sales tax, which was authorized by a successful ballot issue in a previous year. Museum revenues are budgeted at $162,649, and budgeted expenditures are $167,895.
At the end of the reading and passage of the official resolutions required for adoption of the budget, Town Clerk Laurie Erwin received applause from the Board and the audience. Mayor Jerry Fitzgerald congratulated Erwin for her efforts then commented, “I really want to thank the entire board. It turned out very well – this entire budget process.”
The mayor mentioned that the town had received an indirect request to help local Two Peak Fitness with a senior outreach program. He appointed Trustees Nancy Dick and Dale Davis to coordinate efforts on this request.
Trustee Bill Stark was not in attendance due to recent surgery.