City to spend $142K to power street lights
By SHANNON CRABTREE newsdesk@leader-news.com

Lighting up the streets of El Campo doesn't come cheaply - there's $142,310 in next year's budget proposal just to keep the street lights glowing.

And that's just a small part of the overall anticipated electric bill for the city of El Campo.

Last year $123,000 was included in the budget, but costs are expected to run over by about $13,000.

"Most citizens probably don't realize we pay a bill for every street light in town," City Manager John Steelman told City Council during budget hearings.

"The only way to conserve energy is to take one out. They are a set fee per month," he added.

And in general, most citizens want more, not fewer, street lights.

The street light bill is only 21 percent of the $676,914 electric bill the city of El Campo expects to pay next year.

Financial planners are hoping that estimate will cover everything from turning on the lights at city hall, to running the dispatch radios for police, fire and EMS to treating raw sewage at the wastewater treatment plant on Thompson Street.

The 2007-2008 fiscal year budget allocates $375,870 in the Utility Fund for electric costs while $301,044 is designated in the General Fund.

Of the Utility Fund electric budget, $164,040 is estimated for water distribution with the remainder set for sewage collection and treatment.

After street lights, the El Campo Civic Center has the highest expected electric cost in the General Fund with $36,344 allocated.

The Aquatic Center is close behind with $35,450 designated while the police department is expected to need $32,340.

The next highest budgeted electric cost is the Parks & Recreation Department at $14,690.