Westminster’s Spending Is in Line With Budget, Finance Chief Says

WESTMINSTER —  City spending is in line with its budget projections, according to a midyear report by the Finance Department.

“If the year ended at midyear, there would be less than a .001% revenue discrepancy,” Finance Director Brian Mayhew said.

While utility taxes are slightly down, sales-tax revenue, which had been decreasing since 1989, is slightly up.

“It looks like the decline (in sales-tax revenue) is over,” he said, adding that sales-tax revenue could generate an extra $100,000 for the city.

The city so far has spent about $14 million of its $25.5 million budget, Mayhew said, in line with budget projections for the fiscal year, which runs from July 1 through June 30.

The city lost $400,000 in property-tax revenue this fiscal year because of state budget cuts, but the loss was figured into the city’s revenue projections, Mayhew said.

Property taxes are expected to generate $2.5 million by the end of the fiscal year.

Sales taxes will add $8.6 million, and the utility users’ tax should bring in an additional $3.6 million, Mayhew said.

The city attorney’s budget will require increases because of the city’s conflict with former Fire Chief D’Wayne Scott, who was fired last month.

“We have a lot to be proud of,” Mayhew said. “We did a lot of work and preparation, anticipated everything, all the funds are in good shape.”