Strong revenues, slighter spending leave $1.8M over budget in Prairie Village general fund

Better-than-expected revenues and across-the-board belt tightening left nearly $1.8 million more than budgeted in Prairie Village’s general fund at the end of 2011, according to a new financial report.

Despite the fact that property tax and motor vehicle tax revenues declined in 2011, strong income from liquor and use taxes buoyed the city’s revenue stream for the year. Use taxes are taxes on goods purchased outside a taxing jurisdiction that would have been taxable had they been purchased within the taxing jurisdiction. Goods sold over the Internet account for most transactions subject to use taxes.

Use taxes produced nearly $200,000 more in revenue than had been budgeted. Total revenues came in at 103.8 percent of what had been budgeted.

Prairie Village finance director Lisa Santa Maria said the city had also made conscious efforts to reduce spending.

“We try not to spend money on anything unless we really need to,” she said.

The city spent over $100,000 less on Training, Dues and Publications – the budget category that includes conference travel — than it budgeted for in 2011. It also spent over $100,000 less on Vehicular and Equipment Maintenance, and nearly $25,000 less on Postage and Office supplies.

The funds will be carried over to the 2013 budget.