Owasso shifts $4.3 million in storm water funds to finish neighborhood drainage work
City officials moved money from the previous budget to cover projects like the Nottingham Estates upgrade, which cost $974,000.
By Alexei Petit ·
Owasso city leaders moved more than $4.3 million in storm water funds into the current fiscal year. The money was originally set aside for specific purchases and projects. Officials now have the authority to spend it on work that extends past the city's fiscal year end.
The funds come from the Stormwater Management Fund. Residents pay utility service charges to support this account. The money covers the cost of managing runoff and protecting water quality. It pays for the maintenance of storm drains, pipes, and drainage channels. It also covers creek maintenance and the staff needed to perform the work.
The city's fiscal year ends on June 30. Some construction projects and large purchases take longer than that time frame to complete. When these expenses remain unpaid at the end of the year, the budget requires the funds to be carried forward. This process allows the city to keep working on existing commitments without changing the original budget plan.
One project moving forward is the drainage upgrade for the Nottingham Estates neighborhood. City officials approved a bid of $974,000 for this work. The contract will be paid for using the carried-over Stormwater Management Fund money.
Earl Kearney, a resident, said the funds are well placed. He noted that Owasso is expanding quickly. He believes the city should get ahead of infrastructure needs rather than reacting to problems after they happen. Kearney pointed to older, developed neighborhoods that often have drainage issues because the infrastructure was not built to handle current volumes.
He said that heavy spring and fall rains can cause water to pool on residential lots. He believes the new funding will help fix these longstanding problems in established areas of the city.
The city stated that this annual budget adjustment maintains accurate financial records. The funding was already budgeted in the previous year. The current action simply authorizes the expenditure in the new fiscal year.
Source: KJRH 2 News
