Inflation affecting Rosston’s budget

By Staff, 10/12/21 10:00 AM

ROSSTON – Inflation due to COVID-19 is affecting the Rosston city budget.

Rosston Mayor Dale Quarles told the Rosston City Council, at its October meeting Monday evening, the city is working with the same revenue stream, but the cost of everything else has gone up, which is having an effect on the city’s budget. “This has been a rough year,” he said, “but we’ve been lucky.” Federal funds from the American Recovery Program Act, he added, have helped offset the increased expenses.

The expenses, he said, have gone up in all areas, while the city’s revenue has remained the same. He told the council he scrapped plans to renovate city hall when the price of plywood skyrocketed, adding, as this is budget time, he’ll be working to refigure it so the city doesn’t go in the red.

In other business, he said the telemetry system, which controls the flow of water in the lines and the level in the tanks, has been having problems lately. The current system, he pointed out, is 20-years-old and needs to be replaced. Quarles said he’s looking for a new, more updated one, to replace what’s in place now. The one he’s checked on costs around $20,000 and he’s looking for a better price.

Quarles added, the city has got most of the bugs worked out of the new metering system.

The council passed the annual millage ordinance. This is not a new tax, but an existing one for 5 mill that allows the city to receive state turnback funds.

The meeting closed with the announcement of a “health fair” at the Rosston Fire Station Wednesday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Residents can drop by and get their blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol checked, along with getting a colorectal testing kit. No appointment is needed for these preventative screenings, and there is no cost.

In addition, there will be a COVID vaccination clinic. To make an appointment for a vaccination, call 501-912-7402 or visit https://form.jotform.com/bluecares/Rosstonclinic.

This is being done through the Arkansas Minority Health Commission.