FORT WORTH _ The city's sales tax collections continue to run ahead of budget, but the staff told City Council members it's maintaining a "conservative forecast" for the fiscal year.
For the year, the city's collections are $109.13 million, 6.7 percent above the adopted budget and 12.1 percent over year-to-date collections at the same point last year. Sales taxes constitute 19 percent of Fort Worth's general fund budget.Horatio Porter, the city's budget officer, said the staff is maintaining a projection of no growth for the remainder of the year."There's still uncertainty out there," he said. But "we're extremly encouraged by the results we've seen year to date."Other city news:The City Council continued tweaking council district boundaries ahead of next Tuesday's scheduled vote on a final map to be presented to the Justice Department for approval. Council members on Tuesday expressed support for two proposed staff changes designed to boost minority representation: Moving Deer Creek, Garden Acres and Spinks Airport in southeast Fort Worth to Councilman Jungus Jordan's District 6 from Councilwoman Kelly Allen Gray's District 8; and moving South Meadows Crossing and Southgate to District 8 from District 6.The city's animal shelter avoided euthanizing adoptable dogs and cats last week, as adoptions and rescues numbered 437, up from 180 during a normal week, said Diane Covey, a city spokeswoman."This is the same type of overwhelming response we received back in May" when the shelter was swamped with incoming animals, Covey said. The city says the shelter has been running at or beyond capacity.The city is extending its half-price adoption offer through July, Covey said. Residents interested in adopting can visit either PetSmart Charities Adoption Center, 2901 Texas Sage Trail and 4800 SW Loop 820.Those stores, which have a partnership with the city, are open seven days a week. The shelter, 4900 Martin St. near U.S. 287 and Loop 820 in southeast Fort Worth, is open noon-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Adoptions are $24.50 for a dog and $12.50 for a cat. The animals are spayed or neutered, have been vaccinated and come with an identifying microchip. The animal shelter says it has not had to euthanize any adoptable animals since April 2010.The city continues to work with apartment complex owners on a plan that calls for recycling in properties of eight units or more, beginning Jan. 1 2014, if residents request it and the property owner can't demonstrate any practical reason it can't comply. Apartment owners must present recycling plans to the city for approval by Oct. 31, 2013, under changes to the multifamily ordinance that Council members approved last December. "One of the things we're doing is getting the apartment owners to deal directly with their waste haulers" on solutions, said Kim Mote, assistant code compliance director, said. Apartment owners may be able to turn recyclables into a revenue stream, he said. Perry Pillow, director of government affairs at the Apartment Association of Tarrant County, said the organization supports "site-specific" recycling initiatives that don't require "one-size fits-all" requirements.The city's Ridglea Library will close for 90 days beginning Sept. 2 for $335,000 in improvements to the interior, technology and infrastructure.Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base has an annual economic impact to the city of $2.3 billion, according to a new estimate from the Texas Comptroller, Capt. Robert Bennett, base commander, told the council.Scott Nishimura, (817) 390-7808