The city of Alexandria raked in an unexpected $9.8 million in fiscal year 2011 — 1.8 percent of the total operating budget.
Acting City Manager Bruce Johnson said the extra money came from $5.57 million in expenditure savings and $4.26 million in higher-than-anticipated revenue.
Johnson recommended to the city council that two-thirds of the surplus be set aside for next year as a buffer against economic uncertainties. He recommended using the rest for the emergency response to the recent earthquake and flooding and for future emergency preparation.
