City outlines goals for 2014

With the local economy showing continued signs of recovery, the city of Mountain Home is setting its sights on a number of improvements over the next 12 months.

During a public hearing Jan. 13, representatives from each city department outlined initiatives currently in the planning stages.

The city started the fiscal year Oct. 1 with a $640,000 increase in its budget -- a jump of roughly 3 percent -- from the city's previous operating budget. It marked another consecutive year of growth since the state's economic downturn in 2008, which virtually eliminated all discretionary spending for nearly five years until the economy here began to improve.

However, much of that budget increase is tied to grants and loans the city submitted to make needed improvements to local infrastructure.

For example, the city is working with the Federal Aviation Administration to secure approximately $2.4 million in grant funding to rebuild the runway and taxiways at the municipal airport.

In addition, the budget reflects a long-range plan to overhaul South 18th East Street, which includes installing a traffic light at the intersection of American Legion Boulevard. It's possible that project could start later this year, although city officials expect that state funding could be delayed by at least a year.

Details on the city's long-range plan are listed in the Jan. 22 edition of the Mountain Home News.