March 8, 2022
The annual report of the City of Dumas 2021 Finances was published in the March 2, 2022 Dumas Clarion. The general fund account includes all city accounts except street, and water and sewer. The general fund revenue comes from state revenue, property taxes, sales tax, franchise fees, fines, penalties, and others such as grants. Therefore, the report only includes the general fund, street, and water and sewer income and expenses. Most citizens are not aware that the only money-making department for the City of Dumas is the Water and Sewer Department. Without that department and its fees, the city would be in a defunct state.
I have also included an up-to-date report of the Peterson Funds. The city of Dumas was informed that it would be receiving $6 million from the Peterson Trust fund in 2019. That amount has not come to realization. The city council, to no avail, through legal counsel has taken several actions to secure at least a declaration as to the actual amount due Dumas, and a justification for not receiving the funds in a timely manner. The total amount that Dumas received is $4,595,330.24. The receipts were on 4/24/2020, in stock 84,843 shares at $28.15/share = $2,388,330.45; also, in 2020 Dumas received $1 million cash; and on 2/2/2022 received $1,207,000 in cash. The city also received the deed to property attached to Memorial Park. The city has an agency account with Merchants and Farmers Bank for the Peterson Proceeds. In February 2022, the account balance was $4,742,826.19. No money from the account has been spent. The budget committee and community representative Don Livingston have been given the task of presenting a proposal to the council regarding expenditures and investments of these funds. These funds are not private funds; they are now city funds and must follow all the state rules and regulations regarding finances of a municipality.
Even with COVID-19 still lingering and a slight decrease in state revenue and tax collections, the general fund balance was higher than it was in 2020. The street fund balance was also higher in 2021 than in 2020, and so was the water and sewer department fund balance. Overall, the City of Dumas finances are stable. The mayor, budget committee, financial officer, and council members ensured with due diligence the balancing of the city’s budget.
Administrative Activities of the Mayor and City Council. The City of Dumas has a Mayor-Council form of government; thus, it takes at least a majority vote of the council to approve activities recommended by the mayor or any council member. Thus in 2021, the Mayor and Council worked together to bring to Dumas several community and economic development projects.
1. Arkansas Clean Water State Program provided funding for three water and sewer projects in the amount of $8,418,948.00:
$3,975,000.00 as a principal forgiveness loan for a Dumas sewer project to connect Winchester to Dumas. Start date is April 1, 2022.
$376,995.00 to run a waterline providing wholesale water to Pickens; this project should go under construction in conjunction with the Winchester project.
$4,066,953.00 to extend Dumas Sewer line to Mitchellville by the construction of pump stations and non-existent sewer infrastructures.
All of these projects are important to the City of Dumas because they provide a source of revenue for the city. These services also have a positive impact on Dumas receiving funding from state and federal agencies because of their focus on regionalization.
2. Dumas Park Renovations:
A 50/50 Parks, Heritage and Tourism Outdoor Recreation Grant to provide improvements to Memorial Park. ($175,000 grant matched with $175, 000 from city funds.)
$100,000.00 of city funds for park equipment for Magnolia Street Park in West Dumas, and the Armory Park on East Choctaw Street.
Renovations for all city parks are being considered.
3. Development Block Grant through the Southeast Arkansas Economic Development District to correct drainage problems on Belmont and Robinwood Drive. Funding was approved for $275,793.00. A start date has been requested from the engineer.
4. Community Development: Dumas City Council agreed to fund several projects:
A new maintenance building to be located on Hwy 54 West.
Paving of Pistachio, and East Choctaw Street. Other streets under consideration.
Approved $220.000 from the American Rescue Funds to bring the Bowles Street Pump above ground.
Extensive jail improvements have been made and are ongoing.
Purchased a One-Call Emergency Communication System Plan for quick alerts to citizens.
5. Citizens and Workers Welfare:
Co-sponsored a citywide COVID-19 vaccination and booster clinic.
Improved citizens’ safety and protection by purchasing Sky Cop Cameras for 10 locations
Approved salary increases for the Dumas Police Department to bring about equity with the surrounding areas, and approved purchases of defense equipment, vehicles, and etc. These increases went into effect in 2022.
Provided raises for all employees not only to meet minimum wage requirements but to bring equity to the city’s salary schedule.
Voluntarily provided over $200,000 to city employees as COVID-19 pay from the American Rescue Funds.
Provided service vehicles and work equipment as needed by the employees for their job task.
6. Under Code Enforcement, properties in violation city codes were identified and owners notified to clean property or the city has cleaned the property. Sometimes it is a long process because of the legal issues. So far, the city has followed legal guidelines.
7. Attendance at Professional Development Conferences has occurred by zoom and on-site location by the mayor and all department personnel in the city. It is important that the city provides adequate training for all its employees on all levels.
8. In addition to the above activities and important to the development of the city, committees with citizen participation have been formed to assist with the determining and providing of services for the community.
9. There has been continuous handling of several smaller and daily developments and tasks to keep the city business sound and effective.
10. As with all project that requires construction labor and contracts, the cost of materials has increased, production of materials is delayed, and people are not interested in working; thus, construction start dates are not immediate, and there is a waiting list of customers.
In closing, I remind the citizens of Dumas that they have a role to play in the growth and progress, and administration of the city. Negativism will also be with us, but the community (regardless to where one lives) must find ways to become positively united to invest time and effort in assisting to promote the growth and progress of the community. All citizens must move from words of wants and desires to becoming pro-active and participating in city activities to become assets rather than deterrents to the city’s growth. Small contributions go a long way in supporting. Dumas must become all-inclusive to progress.
“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” George Bernard Shaw
“Small progress is still progress.” FJ Simon
