Sales Tax Up In Farmington

FARMINGTON — The City Council’s Oct. 14 meeting lasted only 30 minutes, enough time to levy the annual city tax on real and personal property, purchase a new tractor for the ball fields and approve a grant application for the police department.

Kelly Penn, city clerk, reported that sales tax revenues were up for the month of September, compared to the same period last year. The 1-cent sales tax was up by $2,761, from $28,310 in September 2012 to $30,381 this year, and the city’s portion of the county sales tax was up $ 3,183, from $76,100 in September 2012 to $79,284 this year.

Penn said the city received $9,100 from its share of the new statewide sales tax that is designated for highways and street improvements. Farmington is estimated to receive $100,000 from the new tax but city officials have not decided yet how they will spend the money.

Sherry Mathews, chairwoman of the Parks and Recreation Committee, said plans are proceeding to lay bricks at the Farmington Sports Complex in the design of a baseball diamond. The city received a bid of $6,420 from Robert Carr Masonry Inc., of Farmington, to lay the bricks. The bid is subject to change, based on the total number of bricks involved.

The council approved purchasing a New Holland tractor from Williams Tractor in Fayetteville for $15,498 for the Farmington Sports Complex. The tractor will only be used at the ballpark and includes a loader with bucket, canopy, turf tires and bolt-on cutting edge.

Dan Ledbetter, public works director, said the city has had scheduling conflicts with the equipment. He said the city’s current tractors are too heavy for the grass at the ball fields and he does not want to risk damaging the grass.

While the tractor is not in the city’s 2013 budget, Ledbetter said he will pay for the tractor by pulling $ 10,000 from his utilities budget, using $5,000 from the park’s new equipment line item and taking $598 from the Creekside Park budget. The tractor should last 10-15 years, he said.

The council also approved an ordinance to levy the 2014 tax on real and personal property. The city collects 5 mills for the general fund.

The police department is applying for a $4,300 grant from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance program. The council passed a resolution in support of the grant application. If approved, the police department would probably use the money for a hand-held radar gun, rain gear for the officers and equipment for the detective, said Chief Brian Hubbard.