Sedona Eye » Eye on City of Sedona in 2011

Home » City Council, Community » Eye on City of Sedona in 2011

Eye on City of Sedona in 2011

sedona times / January 11, 2011 / No Comment

Article written by City Manager Tim Ernster and submitted by City of Sedona staff.

Sedona AZ (January 11, 2011) – Happy New Year from City Hall, and we hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable holiday season.

As the New Year begins, I am happy to report that the City’s finances are in good shape, and due to the significant budget cuts the last two years, the City is in a strong financial position for moving forward into the new calendar year. Revenues for the first five months of the year are up from the same period last year, and expenditures are 15-25% lower than the same period last year. Also, the City has very healthy undesignated cash reserves.

There have been some important changes in recent months regarding sales tax collection and business licensing. Beginning January 1, Revenue Discovery Systems will begin collecting local City sales taxes, due from businesses in February. The City Council voted to withdraw from the Arizona Department of Revenue sales tax collection service in October 2010, due to the lack of accurate and timely reporting, and inconsistent collection of revenues from one month to the next.

We expect that the first couple of months of the transition will be challenging for everyone, as the City and businesses make the change. But we are confident that the change will result in better communication with the business community, more efficient collection of local sales taxes, and potentially increased collections.

In addition, the new business license ordinance has gone into effect, and all businesses that are required to pay sales tax are now required to obtain a formal business license. If you are a business owner and have questions about either of these changes, I encourage you to call the Sedona Finance Department (928-204-7185) for assistance.

The City has some important meetings on the possible Route Transfer coming up in the next few weeks that we are encouraging the public to attend. On January 13, an Open House regarding the possible Route Transfer will be held at the Sedona Public Library, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Representatives from the City, The Arizona Department of Transportation, and CivTech Engineering will be present to answer questions about the possible Route Transfer as well as ADOT’s plan for installing continuous roadway lighting should the City not approve the route transfer. Staff will be making short presentations at 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. with a thirty-minute question and answer session following each presentation. During the remainder of the Open House, citizens can talk one-on-one to City, ADOT and CivTech representatives and review static displays.

On January 19, a Listening Session will be held at West Sedona School in the cafeteria. The meeting is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. The public will have an opportunity to discuss the possible route transfer as well as any other community issues.

On February 9, the City Council is scheduled to hold a work session at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chambers to review all of the information related to the possible route transfer and to give the public another opportunity to express their opinion on the issue. The City is scheduled to make a final decision on the possible Route Transfer on February 22. The City Council is very interested in what you have to say about this very important decision.

The City will be holding its first Citizens Academy in the Spring. The Academy will be open to all residents and is a seven-week program intended to educate and inform participants on City operations and issues. Citizens who complete the Academy will be encouraged to apply for vacancies on City boards and commissions. The hope is to identify new leaders in the community and encourage them to get involved in the City. More information about this program will be available in the next few weeks.

This SedonaEye.com article written and submitted by the City of Sedona Manager Tim Ernster and published without comment or edits. If you have questions, contact Ginger Wolstencroft at 928-204-7119. Subscribe to the SedonaEye.com news site for City updates and follow the SedonaEye.com Calendar of Events daily.