By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@TheCitizenNews.com

Fayetteville's revenues and expenditures are about where they should be at midyear, finance director Lynn Raven told City Council Monday.

In her annual midyear budget report, Raven said the city has collected about $3.7 million of its anticipated $6.86 million in general fund revenues for fiscal year 200, which runs from Aug. 1, 1999 to July 31, 2000.

Expenditures also are at about 50 percent of the budget as of Jan. 31, the midyear point, she said, except that the city's capital projects have used only $369,531 of the $1.29 million budgeted.

Work is expected to begin in June or July on a $290,000 brick paver program for the Courthouse Square, for instance, so that project shows an expenditure at midyear of 0 percent of budget. Renovation of the historic Hollingsworth House has used up $72,409 of the $121,903 budgeted, while restoration work on the Holliday/Dorsey/Fife House has eaten only $561 of its $214,998 budget.

The city's water and sewer revenues and expenses also are running about normal, said Raven. The department has spent $1.4 million of its $2.7 million budget, or 52 percent, and has received 54 percent of its anticipated revenue — $1.8 million out of $3.3 million.

Raven is requesting a midyear amendment to the city budget as well, increasing revenues and expenses by $68,602 in the general fund, and $195,000 in the water and sewer fund.

A $75,000 settlement in a lawsuit against the company that installed the city's air conditioning system makes up the lion's share of the increase on the revenue side, with $7,800 coming from a recent surplus auction and $5,802 transferred from the city's capital projects fund.

Most of the money, $68,687, will go for an upgrade to the city's computer system, with the rest used for four other minor projects.

Raven also proposes to take $195,000 from reserves to cover $160,000 in water purchases that were necessary last summer and fall due to drought and $35,000 in system enhancements.

Council conducted a first reading of the proposed budget changes Monday, and is expected to vote on the request at its April 3 meeting.