Soon after 9 am Wednesday, July 22, Columbia City Council passed Ordinance 2009- 078, amending Ordinance 2007- 048 to adopt the budget for the City of Columbia for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008. In order to provide funding to eliminate fund deficits, the city had to amend the FY 2007- 2008 general fund budget.

Bringing the general fund current, the city amended for a net change of $33,623,198 for a total budget of $133,139,120. To achieve the net change, the city reported the following budgeted revenues and transfers in the general fund:

- Property tax revenues are increased by $4,900,160. - Licenses and permits are increased by $2,299,855. - Intergovernmental revenues are increased by $1,540,740. - Charges for services are increased by $577,383. - Fines and forfeitures are decreased by $6,939. - Revenues from interest are decreased by $803,855. - Other revenues are increased by $740,552. - Other financing sources are increased by $24,375,522. (cumulative)

I. Transfers in, $16,752,195. II. Sale of property, $7,623,127.

Also to achieve the net change of $33,623,198 for a total budget of $133,139,120, budgeted expenditures and transfers out of the general fund had to be amended as follows:

- General government is increased by $455,335. - Judicial is increased by $150,082. - Finance Department is increased by $777,588. - Community Development is increased by $608,836. - Public Safety is increased by $10,071,402. - Parks and recreation is increased by $2,276,732. - Public Services is increased by $3,351,094. - General Services is decreased by $229,781. - Community Promotion is increased by $29,790. - Intergovernmental expenses is increased by $6,462,450. - Non- departmental is increased by $2,557,241. - Other financing uses are increased by $7,112,929.

So, finally, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, the books are good. Now, expect something similar soon for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, and then ask, "Just how far behind are we? Did we fall short?" Reportedly the city is running about $9 million short. The next question concerns a property tax increase in an election year.