Title
Consider recommendation from EAA staff to authorize staff to hold public meetings on the 2017 proposed budget and aquifer management fee rates.
Body
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Move the board authorize staff hold public meetings to receive comment on the EAA 2017 proposed budget and aquifer management fee rates.
SUMMARY:
The purpose of this agenda item is for the board to consider an EAA staff recommendation to authorize staff to hold public meetings to receive public comment on the 2017 proposed budget and aquifer management fee rates. EAA staff presented the General Manager’s 2017 Proposed Budget to the board on September 13. An electronic version of the proposed budget is attached to this summary.
The proposed 2017 budget represents the General Manager’s recommendations to accomplish the EAA’s strategic initiatives. The proposed budget supports two major programmatic areas: a General Fund of $16.4 million in projected expenses, supported by revenues generated through the assessment of a $50 per acre-foot general aquifer management fee; and an Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan (EAHCP) Fund of $17.3 million in projected expenses, supported by revenues generated through the assessment of a $34 per acre-foot program aquifer management fee. Collectively, this makes for a $33.7 million comprehensive budget funded by a combined aquifer management fee of $84 per acre-foot, which remains unchanged since 2012. At the October 11 meeting, staff will review the proposed budget with the board and will be prepared to answer questions.
Staff is proposing a series of public meetings on the proposed budget:
San Antonio:
Wednesday, October 12, 2016 at 6:00PM
EAA Board Room
New Braunfels
Friday, October 14, 2016 at 10:00AM
New Braunfels Civic Center (Honors Hall)
Uvalde
Monday, October 17, 2016 at 2:00PM
Uvalde SSGT Willie de Leon Civic Center (Pecan Room)
Following the public meetings, the Finance/Administrative Committee, at their October 25 meeting, will consider any comments received and may make a recommendation for the board to approve the 2017 proposed budget and aquifer management fee rates at the November 8 board meeting.
As a quorum of the Finance/Administrative Committee was not present at the September 27 meeting, this item is coming to the board as a staff recommendation. Staff recommends the board authorize staff to hold public meetings to receive comment on the EAA 2017 proposed budget and aquifer management fee rates.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
This agenda item does not relate to a specific goal within the Strategic Plan, but supports the general EAA mission.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The General Manager’s 2017 Proposed Budget Operating Budget totals $33.7 million. There is no fiscal impact associated with this item until the board adopts the 2017 budget and assesses the aquifer management fee rates.