Budget workshop flags Voigt Center and pool revenue, camera monitoring and high internet costs

Staff told council on July 30 that pool and facility revenues will exceed earlier estimates and that the city has new surveillance cameras at the Voigt Center; staff proposed paying ongoing monitoring costs from the hotel/motel tax fund rather than the general fund.

Revenue and operations: Fred told the council the swimming-pool revenue is up and staff increased the pool revenue projection from $110,000 last year to $125,000 in the draft budget based on year-to-date receipts. He said Voigt Center rental revenue is expected to meet budgeted projections.

Cameras and internet: staff said the Voigt Center has several newly installed cameras and that the monthly internet/fiber bill for municipal facilities is substantial; Fred noted that the budget currently shows roughly $23,000 for town-hall internet and another $20,000 for the Voigt Center, for an apparent combined annual cost around $43,000 and that the city intends to move camera-monitoring costs to hotel/motel tax revenue where allowed. Council asked staff to review bills and verify services and pricing.

Why it matters: pool and facility revenue support operating budgets; efficient allocation of camera-monitoring costs to hotel/motel funds can reduce general-fund operating pressure if legally allowable; staff said the Voigt Center and pool infrastructure (cameras, phones, fiber) require ongoing operational funding.

Next steps: staff will confirm monthly/invoice detail for internet and camera monitoring and will move monitoring costs to the hotel/motel tax fund where permissible; no funding changes were approved at the workshop.