General governmental revenue collections and expenditures by the city of Des Moines were marginally higher in the first quarter this year compared to the same period in 2007.
Revenue collections of $4,133,966 through March accounted for 23 percent of the city's annual budget, compared to 20.8 percent last year, according to the First Quarter 2008 Financial Report recently submitted to the Des Moines City Council by finance director Paula Henderson.
General expenditures of $4,367,602 came to 24.5 percent of the 2008 budget, compared to 24.1 percent in 2007.
General governmental operating funds include the general and street funds, which support general governmental operations: administration, municipal court, law enforcement, planning and development, building, street maintenance, park maintenance and operations, recreation programs, and senior services and programs.
Henderson reported that first quarter property tax receipts of $134,744 were slightly below the $144,140 collected in 2007.
Sales tax revenue of $518,969 was collected, compared to $503,979 received in 2007.
The first quarter report includes one-time sales taxes of $100,976 from the Mt. Rainier High School, Judson Park Expansion, Midway Elementary School and Midway Sewer Outfall construction projects.
Last year $57,345 in one-time sales taxes were reported for the first quarter.
Criminal justice sales taxes - enacted by voters in 1990 - totaled $183,686, compared with $172,738 in 2007.
Business and occupation taxes of $248,398 exceeded 2007 receipts by 29.7 percent, while utility tax collections were $920,989, an 8.4 percent increase.
Although license and permit fees decreased by $121,509 from 2007, charges for services - including fees for passports, false alarms, right-of-way, engineering reviews, and park, recreation and senior service fees- totaled $601,833, compared to $497,314 in 2007.
"Expenditures by categories appear to be trending normally for salaries, benefits, and other services," Henderson informed council members.
"The 2008 supplies category is trending lower than 2007," but appears "to be consistent with spending patterns of the prior year," she added.
Marina revenue of $803,644 reflected an 18.1 percent increase above first quarter receipts of $699,631 last year. Expenses of $665,346 were 19.6 percent above the outlay of $534,410 in 2007.
The city's capital improvement expenses came to $254,684 during the first three months of the year.
