Outside her office window, a bevy of electric lines slice through the view of the sun-filled blue skies. It is a constant reminder of why she is here.
Over most of the past month and a half, Marlow city administrator Janice Cain has toiled over the budgeting process for the city and municipal authority. The new fiscal year began July 1.
Approved through a number of work sessions leading up to the beginning of the new year, the council approved a $2.4 million budget, while the municipal authority will operate under a $5.7 million plan.
As the new fiscal year begins, Cain and the city council have their collective eye on improvement.
“We have several capital improvements among our priorities while also keeping an eye on the bottom line,” Cain said.
She noted that the council and municipal authority approved a budget that did not project a large increase in revenue, while expecting an increase in expenses due to surrounding factors.
“We took conservative approach in respect to revenue projections because sales tax is economy driven,” Cain said. “Marlow has enjoyed a good economy with the oil and gas industry, but we can’t expect that to always be the case.”
With the conservative projections, the council and authority also projected modest growth in expenditures.
“There is a 25-percent increase across the board due to increased fuel cost, which will affect everything from vehicle use to the power we buy to supply our city with the necessary infrastructure,” Cain added.
Among the priorities for the new fiscal year, the city will continue to see street improvements.
As new concrete is laid in west Marlow, Cain said another $100,000 in improvements is to be expected in the coming months.
“Mostly overlays in the areas of need,” she noted.
Cain said officials would continue to set aside funds for future projects like downtown sidewalks.
“Sidewalks are a major project that will require grant funding,” Cain said.
The city’s request was denied during the last round of grant funding, which would include a match grant. To that end, Cain said, the city would continue to store funds in the event a grant was awarded in the future.
Cain noted that sidewalks on the list to be replaced are the three blocks downtown from the post office east to Marlow Lumber. Also included in the renovation would be the half block on either side of Main Street, excluding First Street to the north.
Also near the top of the city’s to-do list is a continuation on the improvements at city hall.
“There are needs in the police and fire department that need to be addressed in the coming months, from available space to technological needs,” Cain said.
The council and authority have been studying the possibility of an expansion of the Garland Smith Public Library, and will continue that study this year.
“Library expansion is a priority,” Cain said. “There is an immediate need for more space, whether it be at the library’s current location, or a different location.”
Generators for the new water pumps and lift stations are a priority.
“To ensure the city’s facilities continue to operate during power outages, we are looking at updating current equipment,” Cain said.
There are generators at most sites, but much of the equipment is outdated.
“Those generators are getting older, which means they are getting harder to repair and requiring repair more often,” Cain said. “Having reliable power alternatives at these sites would mean city services would continue in case of an emergency.”
The new budget also contains $50,000 for continued tree trimming.
For the past 18 months, the city has contracted Asplundh for continued trimming of limbs and trees around power lines.
“We feel this contract has paid for itself in the lack of power outages and surges due to lines coming into contact with limbs,” Cain said.
Cain noted that the city has spent approximately $100,000 for the trimming services during that time.
Overall, there will be no cuts in city services, or for that matter, any department.
“We will continue to operate as we did last year,” Cain said. “The budget is always being monitored, and we adjust on a month-by-month basis.”