Marksville adopts budget with small surplus

Marksville adopted a “tight” budget, but there is no “fiscal cliff” in sight for the city in the next 12 months.

The council unanimously adopted the budget which anticipates total revenues of $6,523,012 and operating expenses of $6,230,461.

While that indicates a $292,551 surplus -- almost 4.5 percent -- other budgeting considerations such as depreciation in the water and sewer systems leaves a surplus of only $83,907 in the 2018-19 budget that goes into effect July 1. That is a surplus of less than 1.3 percent.

A few years ago the city was on the brink of being unable to meet its payroll. Drastic mid-year cuts avoided that and cost-cutting measures implemented at that time have kept the city out of the red.

‘CAN SHAKES’

In another matter, the City Council took action to keep Marksville High School clubs, teams and organizations from monopolizing the 14 available Saturday’s the city allows for “can drive” fundraisers.

The city ordinance on that kind of fundraiser states it cannot be on Tunica Drive, due to heavy traffic, and is limited to two weekends a month and no more than 14 per year.

Lemoine said he has received complaints from some local organizations who have been unable to schedule a “can shake” because a MHS club has used up the available dates.

The mayor said he has also received complaints from people who say every time they come to Marksville, somebody is shaking a can at the traffic light.

Increasing the number of dates available for can shakes could address the first issue, but would aggravate the second.

After discussion on the available options, the council voted to limit MHS organizations to three can shake fundraisers per year and recommended school organizations combine their efforts and split the proceeds of those three events.

NO CATS ALLOWED

In other business, City Manager Tommy Garrot asked that the public be made aware that “the city does not pick up cats.”

He said the city has received numerous calls from citizens asking that an employee come by to pick up stray cats around the city.

Marksville picks up only stray dogs, and it has limited space to do that. He said there were 10 dogs in the city’s pound as of the June 20 meeting.

Because a stray dog poses the potential to attack humans, as well as being a nuisance around residents’ homes, the city acknowledges the need to pick up stray dogs.

While stray cats are also a nuisance, it would take considerably more space to hold stray cats. Except for vicious animals, dogs can be held in large communal kennels, allowing the city to hold more at a time.

Cats -- especially unrelated cats -- are likely to tangle if put into the same cage. This forces single cage housing for each feline. In addition, there appears to be more feral cats than loose dogs in the city.

Councilman Mike Gremillion said people from outside of Marksville come into the city to dump their unwanted animals because they believe the city will take care of them.

Council Frank Havard said there is a problem with people dumping cats and dogs across the city and elsewhere.

Lemoine said other mayors have called him to ask if Marksville could take some strays from those towns.

“I had to tell them we just don’t have the room,” he said.