2025 city budget accepted on first reading

It’s budget approval month for the Webb City Council, which on Monday accepted first reading of the 2025 fiscal-year budget. Second (final) reading will be on the Oct. 28 agenda, and the budget will take effect Nov. 1.

The fiscal year will start with $2,897,679 in the general fund. Adding projected revenue of $6,601,515 and subtracting expenditures of $6,708,929 will leave an ending balance of $2,790,265.

The city’s largest single source of revenue, the 1-cent sales tax, is expected to reach $2,533,721 for the current fiscal year. And it’s conservatively projected to be the same for fiscal year 2025.

The 1-cent sales tax brought in $157,721 (6.6%) more than last year. While the use-tax collections grew $135,543 (18%), from $760,000 in 2023 to $895,543 in 2024.

The projected cash balance of all funds is expected to be $9,166,783 on Oct. 31. Revenue is projected to be $18,999,350, and expenditures are projected to be $20,829,635, for an end-of-year projected balance of $7,336,498.

The budget is prepared by Financial Administrator Tracy Craig, City Administrator Carl Francis and City Clerk Kim DeMoss. In Francis’ report to the council, he wrote, “All department heads cooperated this year and kept their requests to a manageable level that was much appreciated.”

The large difference in general-fund revenue from 2023 to 2024 is attributed to the end of federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. ARPA revenue received in 2023 was $2,529,231. Those funds were primarily spent on street paving and the water system.

Budgeted capital improvements are not definite until they are approved at the time of purchase by the city council.

Also on Monday, the council approved two street projects to be done next week. First Street will be paved, where they’ve been doing the water line replacement, at a cost of $58,920. And the 400 block of Tracy Street will be paved at a cost of $7,800.