There is always attention to just how a town is handing its finances, but when the economy is down, there is always extra scrutiny.  The numbers from the Town of Afton suggest that the council is protecting their general fund about as well as they can during such a climate.  The town reported a surplus of $648,454 for the end of fiscal year ending June 30, 2011.  A large chunk of this was utilized for expenditures for the Star Valley View golf course.  Those same reports also showed that there were modest surpluses in the water fund of $33,951 and $1,300 in the sewer fund.  With the area now in the middle of the winter months, Town Administrator, Randy Sanderson stated that the trend is continuing.  Sanderson said that mid-way through the current fiscal year, the Town of Afton has built a surplus of $313,945.

“We are currently experiencing revenues in excess of what we budgeted,” Sanderson said.  “That is from sales tax.  That can literally change overnight but the council approaches their decision in a conservative manner.  We can’t see any dark clouds on the horizon at the moment.  It is tough to know for sure, we had several surprises in terms of obligations that the town had but in the future that will improve.  The people that we have doing things are dedicated.  It is a thankless job.”

Sanderson also emphasized that the council is keeping their eyes on the reasons that people live within the town.  Police, water and sewer.

“Basics first,” he added.  “[We] still have limited reserves and the biggest focus for the town right now is where we can start to improve the streets, we are in desperate need for that and get the police up to speed and hopefully rotate vehicles.”

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