Ravenswood City Council authorizes balanced budget

Story by Suzette Lowe

Special to Jackson Newspapers

The Ravenswood City Council adopted a balanced budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Mayor Josh Miller presented council members with a budget whose projected revenues are less than the current year. This was explained as being due to the one-time insurance claim from the McIntosh house fire. That claim had to be assigned as revenue for the current fiscal year.

Projected revenue for fiscal year 2022-2023 is $2,838,114 with an unassigned balance of $1.9 million in the general government account, making the total $4,738,114.

The mayor highlighted the major changes in the expenditure portion of the finances.

The Ravenswood Development Authority’s appropriation was increased to $50,000, up from the normal $10,000. Councilwoman Dee Scritchfield asked how the additional funds would be used. The mayor said he wanted the Development Authority to have a chance to do its job.

“I want them to have this seed money to be able to buy and sell property, encourage new business and advertise,” he said. “They’ve never had a chance to really do this. This will also enable them to work more closely with the Jackson County Development Authority.”

The Ravenswood Fire Department was budgeted $110,000. This reflects the current fiscal year request approved in a previous board meeting. At that time, the mayor indicated those additional funds would be included in the next year’s budget.

The Ravenswood Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners (BOPARC) funds were left at the regular $100,000. But two categories, Historic Landmark Commission ($10,000) and Great Bend Museum ($50,000), will have separate funds under BOPARC.

The total projected expenditures totaled $4,738,114.

Council members Scritchfield, Amanda Slaven, Nick Fox and Steve Tucker voted and unanimously approved the proposed budget. Councilwoman Denise Toler recused herself from the vote due to her membership on the Ravenswood Development Authority. City Recorder Jared Bloxton was not present.