By Tim SchmidtRecord Managing EditorRevenues and expenditures in the new Wright City budget are projected to increase slightly compared to 2015, with reserves expected to cover a shortfall.The city anticipates spending $3,917,367 this year, while revenues total $3,712,060. The difference will be covered by reserves. The city is starting the new fiscal year with $2,155,734 as a beginning balance in all funds and expects to finish 2016 with a $1,950,427 balance, according to the budget.In the general fund, the city’s estimated revenue in 2016 is $1,756,260, while expenses are $1,922,075. Reserves in the fund are anticipated at $318,858.Aldermen passed an ordinance unanimously to adopt the 2016 budget at their Dec. 28 meeting. The new fiscal year began Jan. 1.The budget process was a smooth one, said Karen Girondo, city treasurer/economic development director.“It was an easier budget year,” she said. “There were very few changes made to the budget I (originally) submitted.”Sales tax revenue is expected to climb this year. In the general fund, the city has budgeted $355,000 in sales tax. That figure is a $5,000 jump from what was collected in 2015 when the budget was set at $325,000.The transportation sales tax is estimated at $153,000, $3,000 more than what was received in 2015. For the park improvement sales tax, the budgeted amount is $75,000, the same amount received this year.The new budget includes 3 percent raises for all full-time employees, with the city considering adding a part-time position at city hall. In 2015, employees received a 2 percent pay raise.No water and or sewer rate hikes are planned this year.The city also has budgeted $10,000 for its annual contribution to the Greater Warren County Economic Development Council.Girondo complimented department heads for their work in helping the city.“Department heads are very conscious of their budgets,” she said. “They bring me good figures of what they want and that helps.”Major expendituresOne of the city’s major projects for 2016 is the construction of a new building for the public works department. The structure would be built near Ruge Park.The city has allocated $40,500 for the building, with the funds being evenly distributed from the water, sewer and street funds.“We are getting more and more equipment and it needs to be under a roof,” Girondo said. “Our motor grader had sat out for years and we had it vandalized this summer.”The city also has budgeted $120,000 for major road repairs, $75,000 for new water lines, $50,000 for engineering for maps/studies, $20,000 for a water mapping project, $15,000 for equipment and $9,000 for maintenance to city hall.City officials are awaiting the results from a sewer study to identify improvements to the system. Once that is received, Girondo expects some future meetings to be held to set priorities for projects that may be completed in 2016.In addition, $20,000 has been set aside for new playground equipment at Ruge Park and $44,500 for new sidewalks on Bell Road and Wildcat Drive, a project funded primarily from a grant.Wright City