The city of Warrenton’s 2018-19 budget includes over $18 million in spending, split between operating costs, capital expenses and debt payments.That spending will be supported by $11 million in revenue and $16.5 million in the city’s bank accounts at the end of the previous fiscal year, which runs July through June.A budget document for Warrenton recently was approved by the city’s board of aldermen. The budget is a plan for how the city will spend the money it takes in through taxes and other sources, but it isn’t a guarantee, officials said.The budget can change throughout the year, and often money goes unspent if certain projects are delayed or open employment positions go unfilled.The main costs for the city will be $7.2 million for daily operations, $8.9 million for capital expenses (which mostly means major construction projects), and $2.5 million in debt payments.Payroll for city employees will increase by an average 3.7 percent, according to the budget document. Starting pay for several positions have been increased based on market rates, according to the budget.The city also is predicting a 7 percent increase in health insurance premiums for employees.Sales taxes remain as the city’s largest source of income by far. They account for about half ($2.4 million) of the money going toward the city’s daily operations for the year.Sales taxes also make up the vast majority of money that goes toward capital expenses — essentially, construction and large equipment purchases. That includes $1.6 million generated by two special sales taxes specifically for the new Interstate 70 interchange currently under construction.City departmentsMost of Warrenton’s day-to-day operations are paid for by the city’s general fund. That includes city administration, police, street projects, park and building maintenance, and a variety of other functions.The major exception is the city’s water and sewer services, which are funded out of their own separate budget.Here are some of the city’s largest department expenditures:• Police: Warrenton’s police department is the city’s single largest expense outside of capital projects. Almost $1.9 million from the city’s general fund is budgeted for the police department. That’s an increase of about $100,000 from last year’s budget.• City pool: The largest jump in operating costs compared to last year is the money dedicated to the city pool. Budgeted spending for the pool is four times what it was last year — $491,000 for 2018/2019, compared to $121,000 for 2017/2018.The large increase in cost is because the city is building a new aquatic center that will replace the city pool. Nearly every expense for the pool will increase. Electric, gas and insurance combined for the old pool cost only $11,000, compared to $115,000 over the next year. The contract for a private company to operate the aquatic center will cost $325,000, which is more than triple what it did for the old pool.• Administration: City administration has $931,000 budgeted for 2018/2019. That’s about $51,000 higher than last year.• Grounds and maintenance: The grounds and maintenance department is the staff that takes care of city facilities and parks. That budget is $544,000, an increase of $64,500 from 2017.• Street: Operating costs for the city’s street department are nearly the same as they were last year, $481,000. That’s separate from $1.1 million in capital expenditures related to street and sidewalk construction, along with some equipment purchases.• Water and sewer: This part of city operations has $6.5 million budgeted, including $4.1 million for capital improvements. These costs are mostly funded by user fees. Water and sewer rates will go up 4 percent this year.Major projects ongoingTwo historic construction projects are underway in Warrenton. The city is financing construction of the new I-70 interchange, and at the same time building an indoor/outdoor aquatic center in a new, 39-acre park.These capital projects include payment for construction costs, but also debt payments for the loans that are financing the projects.Warrenton will spend $1.2 million for the I-70 interchange project this year, with an additional $991,000 in debt payment. For the aquatic center and park, the city will spend $1.8 million for construction and $425,000 for debt.The city also is still working on major water and sewer system improvements that have been ongoing for several years. $2.1 million is slated for work over the next year, with $1 million in related debt payments.City of Warrenton logo