Rain has city manager wishing for green, feeling blue
Utility customers are using less water, city is losing 2-3% of budget
BY TERRIE GONZALEZ MANAGING EDITOR

The recent summer rains have the Rusk city manager wishing for greenbacks, and feeling a little blue.

With the 12.97 inches of rainfall during July, very few persons have needed to water their lawns. And that is costing the city of Rusk quite a few dollars representing 2-3 percent of its budget.

City Manager Mike Murray said that when he prepares a budget, he always estimates income on the low side, expenses on the high side. "That way, there is usually a little money left over when the unexpected happens."

He anticipates that the city will make up the $20,000- 30,000 loss of income without creating a financial hardship.

"We'll be okay," said Mr. Murray. "We'll cut back on our spending a little bit."

A typical water bill in Rusk includes water, sewage, garbage and taxes, and usually runs a ballpark $65 for 5,000- 6,000 gallons of water usage.

But residents aren't needing to water their lawns and wash their cars as much.

The rainy season this year caused him to reflect on what a difference a year can make in the world of weather. "One year ago, it was a dry year, and we had a deep water well go down," he said. "We had to impose water restrictions last year."

And this year, the city has an abundance of water and no one using it.

Mr. Murray said that the first preliminary estimate of damage to streets from recent rains will top $170,000.

"Don't call them 'potholes,'" he said. The paperwork that he must fill out for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) calls them "base failure exacerbated by excess rain."

Rain has damaged Golf Crest and Copeland Streets in Rusk. "Engineers looked at the street damage, and we're hopeful that we'll get some help with that," he said.