Title
Consider recommendation from the Finance/Administrative Committee to authorize staff to hold public meetings on the 2017 proposed budget and associated aquifer management fee rates.
Body
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Move the board authorize staff to hold public meetings to receive comment on the EAA 2018 proposed budget and associated aquifer management fee rates.
SUMMARY:
The purpose of this agenda item is for the board to consider a Finance/Administrative Committee recommendation to authorize staff to hold public meetings to receive public comment on the 2018 proposed budget and associated aquifer management fee rates. EAA staff presented the General Manager’s 2018 Proposed Budget to the board on September 12. An electronic version of the proposed budget is attached to this summary.
The proposed budget represents the General Manager’s recommendations to accomplish the EAA’s strategic initiatives for 2018. The proposed budget supports two major programmatic areas: a General Fund of $17.6 million in projected expenses, supported by revenues generated through the assessment of a $42 per acre-foot general aquifer management fee; and an Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan (EAHCP) Fund of $18.8 million in projected expenses, supported by revenues generated through the assessment of a $42 per acre-foot program aquifer management fee. Collectively, this makes for a $36.4 million comprehensive budget would be funded by a combined aquifer management fee of $84 per acre-foot, which remains unchanged since 2012.
Staff is proposing a series of public meetings on the proposed budget:
San Antonio:
Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at 6:00 PM
EAA Board Room
Hondo:
Thursday, October 12, 2017 at 2:00 PM
Hondo Community Center
San Marcos:
Friday, October 13, 2017 at 10:00 AM
Old Fish Hatchery Building
Following the public meetings, the Finance/Administrative Committee, at the October 24 meeting, will consider any comments received and may make a recommendation for the board to approve the 2018 proposed budget and aquifer management fee rates at the November 14 meeting.
At the September 26 meeting, the Finance/Administrative Committee voted to recommend the board authorize staff to hold public meetings to receive comment on the EAA 2018 proposed budget and associated 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 2018 Proposed Operating Budget totals $36.4 million. There is no fiscal impact associated with this item until the board adopts the 2018 budget and assesses the aquifer management fee rates.