Carefree may see surplus

Carefree is on solid financial ground this year and could even experience a surplus, Town Mayor Wayne Fulcher said.

The town of under 4,000 estimated revenue conservatively this year and allowed for flexibility in cutbacks, he said.

Sales taxes have fluctuated in the last several months while the town ramps up efforts to attract tourists with new downtown lighting and signs.

July was considerably high and August was low, Fulcher said.

2008-09 general fund budget revenue: $4.8 million.

Expected shortfall: $0 (possible surplus).

The good news: A new Lowe's Home Improvement Center northwest of Carefree Highway and Cave Creek Road has boosted revenue.

"I am cautiously optimistic we will be able to still finish this year with a surplus," Fulcher said.

The bad news: Easy Street, a massive multi-use project planned for downtown Carefree, has been postponed. Developer Ed Lewis originally wanted to break ground this month, but he pushed it back to fall 2009 due to market conditions, Fulcher said.

"Quite frankly, it was smart of Lewis," Fulcher said. "While we all want to project to move ahead, it makes sense now to not have it come online yet."

What's next: Officials are holding off non-essential costs while they gauge the downtrodden economy in coming months.

They plan to publicly review the budget in January.

"Month to month, we will carefully monitor where we are," Fulcher said.