Enid Municipal Authority proposes $26M budget with significant water revenue increase

The Enid Municipal Authority (EMA) and the Enid Economic Development Authority (EEDA) held a budget meeting on May 8, 2025, to discuss the financial plans for the upcoming fiscal year. The meeting began with a review of the EMA's financial plan, highlighting key revenue sources and proposed increases.

The EMA's revenue breakdown indicated that water services account for 33% of total revenues, with significant contributions also coming from sales tax and wastewater services. The proposed overall revenue increase for the fiscal year 2025-2026 is $6.3 million, with $1.4 million attributed to water services. Other notable increases include $317,000 for trash services and $220,000 for wastewater.

The discussion also covered proposed expenses, which include personnel costs, operations, transfers, capital outlay, and debt payments. Personnel expenses are set to rise by $561,000, reflecting a nearly 10% increase despite maintaining the same number of positions, with the addition of one part-time role in water production. Capital outlay is expected to increase by $1 million, primarily for equipment and infrastructure improvements.

The EMA's debt payments remain stable, with a budgeted amount of $20 million. The total outstanding debt is approximately $436 million, with $22 million paid off in the previous year. The meeting emphasized the importance of managing these financial obligations while planning for future projects.

Following the EMA discussions, the meeting transitioned to the EEDA's financial plan. The proposed budget for the EEDA is balanced and closely mirrors the previous year's budget, with a $300,000 reduction in transfers from the EMA due to changes in agreements related to sales tax rebates.

Overall, the meeting underscored the city's commitment to maintaining fiscal responsibility while addressing essential services and infrastructure needs. The next steps will involve further discussions on capital improvement programs and finalizing the budget for approval.