The Wichita City Council learned Tuesday that the city's finances are in good shape.
Mark Manning with the Department of Finance says general fund revenues like property taxes, sales tax and court fines are outperforming. Projected expenditures should stay consistent with a balanced budget and the city may see a budget surplus at the end of the year, forecast to be roughly $1.3 million.
City officials do have some concerns. Because of the city's current debt level, rating agencies like Moody's may downgrade the city's credit rating. In addition, bargaining unit contracts come up next year. Manning notes other concerns with the city's level of spending on public safety and inflation.
In other council news, it is a new name for one of Wichita’s branch libraries.
The council approved the name "Evergreen Community Center and Library" for its facility at 25th Street North and Arkansas.
The naming committee began with 70 proposals and narrowed it to five. Renovations are ongoing at the facility, which should reopen in early 2022.
The council also approved Phase 3 of the city's Aquatics master plan.
The city plans to renovate College Hill Pool and build water playgrounds at Planeview and Harrison Parks in 2022. Any remaining funding will rehabilitate the existing pool houses at other city parks.
The city will spend $3 million on these projects, to bring the total spending to $25.15 million. Bidding on the construction begins Friday.