Port Arthur City Council on Tuesday voted 5-2, with Mayor Deloris “Bobbie” Prince and Robert Williamson opposed, to table adoption of the city’s FY2013 Budget.

The proposed budget is balanced, and includes a three percent salary increase for non-civil service personnel. The total General Fund expenditure projected for the proposed budget is $58,412,130, $9,224,438 for the city’s Debt Service Fund to pay on the city’s bonded indebtedness, and $20,469,764 for operation of the city’s water and sewer utilities.

Other expenditures include $8,021,695 in the Solid Waste Fund for capital outlays, and $6,535,430 for the city’s Transit Fund.

The budget, if approved, would take effect October 1.

The city council voted unanimously to table adoption of a budget for the Port Arthur Section 4A Economic Development Corporation.

The budget as proposed totals $6,106,609, and provides salary increases of three percent at the discretion of the corporation’s board of directors.  The proposed budget’s expenditures exceed revenues by $581,009, which will be drawn from the corporation’s reserve fund.

The city council voted unanimously to table implementation of a three percent salary increase for the mayor and city council members.

The increase, if approved, would bring the mayor’s monthly salary to $1,187, and council member salary, including the mayor pro tem’s, to $593 per month.  Car allowances would remain unchanged.

The city council voted unanimously to approve an ordinance to prohibit parking in the front or side yard of any residential district, except upon a private driveway providing access to a garage, carport or parking space for a dwelling unit.

The city council voted unanimously to table action regarding negotiations with Negrete & Kolar Architects, LLP for engineering, design and oversight in the construction of an auto bus wash facility.

The city council voted unanimously to approve a $15,274 agreement with Lamar University for the taping of governmental meetings.

The city council voted unanimously to approve a contract to provide $490,000 in funding to the Port Arthur Convention and Tourist Association.  The association manages and operates a convention and visitors bureau.  The funds will be paid through hotel occupancy taxes.

The city council tabled action on a contract with the RWL Group for risk management consulting services.

All other items were approved by unanimous vote of the members present at the time of the vote.  Council Member Elizabeth “Liz” Segler was absent.  Agenda