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Proposed budget cut results in close Bel Aire council vote 
By David Dinell
Last Updated: July 23, 2015

Bel Aire residents won't be seeing an increase in property taxes for 2016. In addition, the city's budget for next year will be reduced. 

By how much remains to be determined, but at least three council members insisted that commodities purchased by the city and contracts signed by its officials be cut by 10 percent. 

They got their wish as the body voted — by an unusually close 3-2 margin — at its July 21 meeting to do just that.

That means a cut of about $77,000 in the $13.2 million budget. Council members Ramona Becker, Guy MacDonald and Betty Martine voted for the measure and Ken Lee and Peggy O'Donnell voted against it, saying that it wasn't a matter of being against the reduction, but they wanted more flexibility in being able to shape the final numbers. 

Mayor David Austin doesn't vote unless it's to break a tie, but he made it clear that he was against the measure because the council is now locked into the cut and it cannot legally increase spending in those two areas. 

The cuts don't affect jobs, salaries or benefits. 

The council had two budgets to consider — one with the cuts and one without. At issue was which one to go with and a decision had to made at the meeting as, by law, it needs to be published.

While civil, the prolonged discussion sparked some pointed debate among the council. 

"All we're voting on is the publishing," Austin said. "If we go with the cuts, we take away our flexibility."

He also said the spending could be necessary to keep pace with expenses for a growing city. 

Lee agreed. 

"We don't want to take a 10 percent hatchet cut to this," he said. "I do want to see cuts, but a 10 percent across-the-board is dangerous." 

Becker, among the most outspoken for the straight-cut measure, said she feared "incremental budget" growth in which spending simply increases year after year. 

"We need to be saving money," she said. 

Becker, frequently citing managing her own personal budget, said a more conservative spending approach is what Bel Aire needs. 

"It's not like we're starving the city. We can always get by — it can be done."

O'Donnell said, to be fair, if the council is seeking a 10 percent cut, it also needs to have its budget cut, citing a training expenditure.  

"We then take it out," Martine said. 

Austin said the move would be setting some departments "up to fail" as they grapple with higher expenses. Proponents of the measure objected to that, saying that was not at all the intent. 

"No one is being set up to fail," Martine said. 

Whatever side they were on, council members complimented the staff on its job. 

"We asked the staff to make a 10 percent cut and they did," MacDonald said. "They weren't just hatchet cutting. They were careful." 

The next step in the budget process is a public hearing on it, which is set for the next council meeting, Aug. 4. The final document needs to be sent to the Sedgwick County clerk by Aug. 25. 

In other action, the council: 

•Approved an appropriations ordinance of $508,045.

•Listened to Scott Knebel of the Wichita–Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department make a presentation on the TIGER grant application for Wichita/Sedgwick County. The grant would be for $18.8 million and help pay for improvements around Wichita State and northeast Wichita. Although the money wouldn't be spent in Bel Aire, it would help the city's residents who work at or go to WSU, Knebel said. If the city got the funding, it would match it with $9 million. However, getting the grant is highly competitive, and the city stands about a one in 20 chance of receiving it. Krebel was at the meeting to seek the council's support as an important part of the process is getting endorsement from surrounding communities. The council was receptive to the proposal and writing a letter of support. 

•Approved a utility easement encroachment agreement at 4255 N. Auburn St.

•Accepted paving, sanitary sewer and water petitions for Phase 2 of the Courtyards at Elk Creek. In an related measure, approved a contract for engineering services with MKEC Engineering Inc. for the same development. "The Courtyards are selling very well," Austin said, "so well, that they ready to sell Phase 2." 





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