JEFFERSON — Overall revenue may be down, but Jefferson officials are optimistic that they will end up on top at the end of the year.

"The remaining bills outstanding for 2009 would have to total more than $1 million for our expenditures to exceed our revenue for fiscal year 2009," said Amie Vaughan, city finance director.

"I feel pretty confident that the city will have brought in enough, probably a little more, revenue to cover current year expenditures."

At the beginning of the 2009 fiscal year, the city council approved a $6.5 million general fund budget. However, with just a few weeks left in the year, the city has only collected around $5.28 million. The silver lining in the situation is that the city’s current expenditures are a little less than that amount, $5.26 million.

Additionally, the city’s coffers will get a boost in January or February.

"We have a significant revenue source — electrical franchise fees totalling $1 million — that we will receive after year end," said Vaughan. "Per accounting principals, the revenue will be shown in 2009."

The city had under-budgeted for electrical franchise fees, predicting to receive only $850,00, compared to the $1 million it will actually receive, so that will give the city an extra boost, Vaughan said.

Hindsight is often said to be 20/20, but in the case of financial planning, foresight was also right on target for the city.

"A few months into fiscal year 2009 (City Manager) John Ward instructed department directors to set aside 10 percent of their approved budget, 5 percent for public safety, to help offset the shortfalls we were seeing in (Local Option Sales Tax) collections," said Vaughan.

"Department directors have worked diligently to operate with only 90 percent of their budget."

That across the board savings has helped cushion the blow of lower than expected LOST revenue. The city originally planned for $920,000 worth of sales receipts, but so far has only collected $549,300.

Barring any major, unforeseen expenditures, Vaughan expects that the city will fall around $160,000 short of the original $6.5 million, but that should still exceed expenditures, leaving the city in the black for the 2009 fiscal year.