In the fiscal year 2002-2003 budget, the city projects a significant decrease in revenue for the upcoming year.

The city’s new budget will be in effect starting in May, and it has lost approximately $1 million compared to last year’s budget.

As a result of slow revenue, the city’s tourism fund was projected to be $25,000 less than last year to make sure there was no overshot, Mayor Dan Cougill said Monday.

This year, Cougill said, revenues in tourism tax have decreased significantly, which in turn capped expenses for the city.

Cougill said one reason for the downturn could be the Sept. 11 attacks, however; usually the first quarter of the year is slow for tourism.

“We have seen it go back up a little bit,” he said. “Hopefully everybody will get out and start traveling again.”

The slowdown caused city council members to decided on a smaller number in revenue and be conservative, Cougill said.

This will prevent having a budget deficit and if funds do increases and funding rolls in, “it’s just the gravy on the roast beef,” he said.

Other departments of the city also lost a considerable amount of money including parks and maintenance.

They lost approximately $280,000 because last year the city bought land through a private donation and state dollars. The land is near Lake Charleston with the intention of becoming a “mini Fox Ridge,” Cougill said.

The fire and rescue department budget was also projected a leaner budget with a loss of approximately $200,000, because last year the city purchased new ambulance and rescue truck. A new truck is customarily purchased every four to five years, Cougill said.

The streets department also felt a hit of over a million dollars, however; Cougill said that is because of last year’s “two very expensive projects,” of repairing Garfield Avenue and Fourth Street which “help contribute to the million more last year.”