Kingwood Council agrees to spend part of 1% tax for new police cruiser and truck for the street department.

KINGWOOD — Kingwood Council agreed to spend part of the 1% tax for a new police cruiser and to replace a truck in the street department.

With the end of the fiscal year looming June 30, council revised the budget to add the latest installment of the tax and other items that came in higher than budgeted.

The municipal tax brought in $99,325.76 in the third quarter, for a total of $254,645.66 this fiscal year. It’s the first fiscal year the tax has been collected, so council didn’t have any history on which to base collection estimates.

The budget estimated utility tax collections at $50,000, and $153,931 was collected. Revenue from the sale of plots at the city-owned Maplewood Cemetery is $1,500 more than budgeted.

Streets “desperately” needs a new pickup, Councilwoman Michelle Whetsell said. The one in use now is rusting and won’t pass inspection. Council set $50,000 aside for the truck.

Another $46,000 was allocated for a new police cruiser. Chief Charlie Haney said to get a 2021 Ford Interceptor might take until December because factories are behind on orders. Council told him to check with dealers on any 2020 models they may have on their lots.

The price includes about $38,500 for the cruiser and money for lights and other equipment to be installed.

Council also put an additional $25,000 into the Parks and Recreation account.

“Parks and Rec is drowning in red right now,” Mayor Jean Guillot said. It “just doesn’t have any income” because events at the Craig Civic Center and other city recreational facilities have been cancelled, Councilman Mike Lipscomb noted.

The police department also got an additional $10,000 in the funds transfer to cover supplies.

Recorder Bill Robertson asked why the estimates for utility taxes were so wrong? Amy DeBerry, who has been filling in since clerk Kayla Huggins resigned, said she suspects it was an error. “There are numerous errors that need to be corrected,” she said.

Whetsell, who will take over as city clerk June 1, said she suspects when the city switched to a new accounting system there were some problems.

“In August what I would like to do is see where we finally ended up from this year and ‘true’ the budget up,” Robertson said.

Council has hired an accountant to review city funds and make recommendations for changing or combining accounts.

In other business, council accepted Whetsell’s resignation from council. Applications for her seat on council are being accepted at city hall until June 8.

Robertson thanked Whetsell “for her hard work and service, and I look forward to working with her in the future.”

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