By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Alabaster has collected slightly more general fund revenue than projected through the first six months of the city’s fiscal year, Mayor David Frings said during a May 7 City Council report.

During the meeting, Frings gave his state of the city report, outlining the status of several projects and detailing Alabaster’s finances through March 31.

Through the first six months of the fiscal year, Alabaster had collected about 66 percent of the year’s projected revenues, and had spent about 50.2 percent of the year’s projected expenses, Frings said.

Through March 31, the city had a little more than $1 million in its education trust fund, which is funded by a 1-cent sales tax increase approved by the council late last year.

“As an overview, at the six-month mark, our revenues are slightly above where we thought they would be, and our expenses are under control,” Frings said. “Our goal is to end the year under budget on our expenses.”

However, not all aspects of the city’s economy were faring as well as they have in the past, Frings said.

Through April, Alabaster had issued 16 new home permits, up two from last year. In 2004, the city had issued 133 new home permits through April.

“Not everything is rosy. There are so many things tied to the housing market, and it is still fragile at this time,” Frings said.

Frings also gave status updates on several city projects. He said the Beneful Dream Dog Park in Veterans Park is now scheduled to open in mid-July after the builders encountered foundation problems, and said the city is working to connect all city buildings onto one computer network.

Frings said Steak ‘n Shake, a new Legacy Federal Credit Union, Dr. Dilip Shah’s new office, a new oral and facial surgery office and the Alabaster Exchange shopping center will soon be coming to the city.

Frings also said police officer Jeff Weaver also worked to get the city more than $750,000 worth of free government surplus equipment, such as Humvees, a crane, laptops and more.