After two or three years of enjoying an oil and gas boom and the associated growing pains, Alva is experiencing a sharp decline in the city budget. City Business Manager Joe Don Dunham presented the Alva City Council with a monthly financial report as well as an analysis of the fiscal year ending June 30.

Dunham said the theme for the budget year “has been consistent declining revenues” and control of expenditures. FY2016-2017 revenues were down 17 percent from the preceding year (FY 2015-2016) and 35 percent compared to FY2014-2015. In other words, city revenue has decreased by about $5 milli...