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Finance director reports sales tax gain, forecasts $200,000/month from new 0.1% levy; red‑light revenue lags budget
Summary
Finance Director Steve Groom said sales tax is up year‑to‑date and that the recently adopted 0.1% sales‑tax increment could add roughly $200,000 per month; he also reported a YTD shortfall in red‑light camera revenue of about $827,000 against budget and answered council questions about jail invoicing, swim fund balances and ARPA reallocation.
Finance Director Steve Groom presented the monthly financial report and said year‑to‑date sales tax is up 6.5% over the prior year; using a conservative projection he estimated the 0.1% sales‑tax increment (effective July 1) could yield about $200,000 a month, or roughly $1.2 million in the remaining six months of the year. Groom emphasized the projection uses historical seasonality and is an assumption, not a guarantee.
Groom also highlighted a significant variance in red‑light camera revenue: for the first six months the city is $827,000 unfavorable to budget (the budget for 2026 anticipated $4.4M based on prior receipts). He told council that some revenue and invoice timing (for example jail services) can cause large swings and that staff will follow up with police and partner agencies for better projections. On the swim CIP, Groom said the restricted fund balance is in the multiple‑millions range and contains allocations for projects such as the West Hyloburst Trail; he noted staff have been avoiding new bonding and are allowing balances to grow until projects are ready.
