News for 04-13

Florence share of state revenues to fall by six figures.

It looks like the negative impacts of the 2010 census on the City of Florence’s bottom line could be even worse than anticipated. Preliminary figures show 1124 fewer people living inside the city limits than 2009 estimates; that’s a reduction of 12-percent. Because state revenue sharing formulas are based on population, far fewer dollars are headed for the city’s bottom line says Assistant City Manager Jacque Betz.
205 – “It looks like total impact is roughly about 90-thousand. That is conservative and that has to do with the gas tax, liquor tax, street tax and cigarette tax revenue sharing.”

City officials say the count is skewed because at the time of the count… last February… many of the part-time residents who normally leave in the winter were away. That increased the percentage of ‘vacant dwelling units’, something the city will be forced to accept.
206 – “We can’t appeal the population vacancy rate, so, we’re not able to get engaged in a process to appeal the population numbers.”

The count is something the city may have to just accept leaving officials in the position of having to deal with yet another negative revenue impact.

Home sales in the Florence area were “substantially weaker” in the first quarter of this year as compared to last year. Tawfik Ahdab with the Pacific Valuation Group says several other communities are in the same predicament. The Florence area saw 41 home sales close in the first 90 days this year… down from 65 homes in the first quarter of 2010. Also of concern is the falling median price. At $163-thousand it’s the lowest since at least 2005. Ahdab says a high inventory of homes, many in more expensive price ranges; coupled with continued economic uncertainty; could translate into 2011 being one of the worst real-estate years in quite some time.

Skyrocketing crude oil prices and a switch to summertime blends sent the average price of gas higher this past week. The national average, as measured by Triple-A shot up by 11-cents a gallon this week to $3.79. Oregon’s statewide average went up by four cents and stands at $3.82. The average in Florence also went up, but by a much smaller amount. It only increase by a penny a gallon and is at $3.65. By the way, if you’re headed to the Willamette Valley you’ll want to fill up before you head out… Triple-A says the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in Eugene is 21-cents higher than in Florence…

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

The Siuslaw Vikings exploded for seven runs in the third inning and never looked back, cruising to a commanding 10-3 win over the South Umpqua Lancers to open up Far West League baseball play on the road yesterday. Sam Reavis was two-for-four at the plate with a triple, two RBI. Jake Thompson was also two-for-four.

At home on the softball diamone the Lady Vikings and the South Umpqua Lancers went an extra inning with the Lady Lancers coming away with the win, 6-4. South Umpqua broke a 1-1 tie with five runs in an error filled top-of-the-eighth. Siuslaw also capitalized on several errors in the bottom of the frame, but could only answer with three. Ashlee Cole and April Ruf (ruff) were each two-for-two at the plate.