Bob Foos
Webb City’s 2026-27 budget was accepted on first reading Monday by the City Council. Pending final approval on Oct. 12, it will take effect on Nov. 1.
In preparing the budget, city staff members normally estimate the primary source of revenue, the 1-cent sales taxe, will be the same as the current year, while hoping it increases.
This year, City Administrator Carl Francis predicts sales tax revenue will decline a little, from 2,577,962 to 2,548,316.
On the other hand, he points out that use tax revenue is making up for the loss in sales tax revenue. A year ago, the use tax revenue was predicted to be $878,440. But actually, receipts for the year are $264,742 more than that, $1,143,182. (Precise revenue amounts won’t be known until the end of October.)
Francis says major purposes have been kept to a minimum.
If revenue comes in as expected, the ballfield lights will be replaced, and a dump truck will be replaced. The budget includes the typical $500,000 for street paving.
The city is obligated next year to make its final $100,000 payment for the Zora Street widening project. That next payment will be for the widening of Zora Street between Range Line Road and Hall Street. Two previous $100,000 payments have been for the project between Hall Street and the bypass.
Employee merit increases of 2.5% are in the budget, and in the spring, the council will decide if there’s enough money available for employees to receive a 2% cost-of-living adjustment.
Jerry Fisher (4th Ward) weighed in via phone on the budget by saying the presentation was “well done, and despite a lot of spending the ending balances look pretty good.”
You can view or download the entire budget on the Sentinel’s Public Notices page. General revenue is on the front page, and the ending balances are on the last page.
Mayor Lynn Ragsdale said the city is trying to get a handle on the influx of fiber installation contractors and subcontractors.
Francis reported that the city staff has placed a moratorium on issuing permits within the city’s utility easements.
He says the moratorium “will allow time for public works and city contractors time to evaluate safety protocols, as our easements are witnessing more utility additions.
“One item we are requesting is that all contractors working within our easements will start displaying the parent company they are working for and numbers on how they can be reached.”
Ragsdale pointed out it’s the contractor, not the parent company, that applies for the permit.
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The council approved:
• Second reading of an ordinance vacating 109 feet of the alley east of Hall Street behind 210 and 212 E. Broadway.
• First reading of a council bill to rezone 214 E. Broadway from industrial to commercial.
• First reading of a bill to rezone a pie-shape tract at 1206 Fountain Road from single-family residential to multi-family residential for construction of an apartment complex. Other complexes are in that area north of Mount Hope Cemetery.
• First reading of a bill rezoning 218 and 220 N. Madison St. from industrial to multi-family. The original machine shop now has apartments inside, and the new owner plans to also put in a flea market.
