The City of Douglas still has nearly a $1.3 million cash reserve but, that was one of the few positives concerning its finances for 2009-2010.

The Douglas City Council reviewed the revenue report during its regular Wednesday, January 13, meeting.

City administrator Curtis Shook said the city approved a revenue budget of nearly $11 million last year, but it appears revenues will fall far short of that total.

It is estimated that revenues will be $477,669 short of the city’s budgeted goal. Most of that shortfall is coming from sales taxes ($193,246) and State Taxes ($140,668).

Other areas suffering loses includes Franchise Taxes, Permits/Licenses, Total Parking Lot and Cemetery Fees, Ambulance Fees, Court Fines and Investment Earnings.

Only Property Taxes and miscellaneous are not showing loses in revenue this year.

If the trend continues, the revenue shortfall next year could be more than $900,000

In 2010-11, the city is projecting continued decreases in sales taxes, State Shared revenues and the Insurance Reserve.

The council also received a report on the possible construction of a Fallen Officer Memorial honoring those Douglas Police Officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

On September 4, 2005, Officer Ramon Rios suffered a heart attack shortly after he, along with other officers, arrested several juveniles that were under investigation for criminal damage to a vehicle.

The memorial would cost approximately $50,000. The committee will be soliciting funds from the City of Douglas as well as other county agencies for the completion of the memorial.

In other action, the council:

√ Approved a resolution authorizing the city of Douglas Fire Department to enter into a contact renewal with Tucson Medical Center for emergency medical services.

√ Approved a second reading of Ordinance 09-976 amending the municipal code related to Business Licenses .

√ Approved a resolution authorizing the submission of an application for 2009 State Community Development Block Grant State Special Project Funds certifying that the applications meets community’s previously identified housing and community development needs and requirement of the state CDBG Program and authorizing all actions necessary to implement and complete the activities outline in the application.

√ Approved a resolution authorizing the execution of a intergovenrnmental agreement between Cochise County and the City of Douglas to have the county provide management, responsibility, technical support, computer replacement, security and access to Douglas Police and Fire Department  to the Spillman Data System and  Arizona Criminal Justice Information System starting this month.

√ Approved a resolution authorizing the city to enter into an agreement with the State of Arizona Homeland Security for reimburseable grant in the amount of $17,477 for the purchase of four portable radios to be used by the city’s Special Response Team under the State Homeland Security Grant Program.

√ Approved a resolution rescinding  other resolutions and authorizing the application for a Clean Water Revolving Fund  Loan from the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona.