New city budget takes effect Nov. 1

Webb City’s budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year will take effect Nov. 1, now that it has been approved by the City Council.

Passage on second reading was unanimous. There were no changes since the budget was accepted on first reading on Oct. 9.

Mayor Lynn Ragsdale acknowledged the city staff’s effort to prepare the budget.

City Administrator Carl Francis said that effort begins annually in August when he and department heads start determining what needs can be afforded in the coming year.

Tracy Craig, financial administrator, actually prepares the budget.

Relative to the budget, there was discussion about sales tax receipts coming in flat for the current fiscal year. In fact, the 1-cent general sales tax brought in 2.24% less than the previous year.

Falling sales equally affect the half-cent tax for transportation, the half-cent tax for storm water and parks, and the eighth-cent and three-eighth-cent taxes for capital improvements.

• 2021-22 2,435,447
• 2022-23  2,380,836

Budget planners foresaw this trend and have budgeted $2,376,000.

Francis said he hopes the new restaurants on Madison Street and the Tee Time golf facility, at Daugherty and East streets, will increase sales tax collections.

On the other hand, Ragsdale said the overall trend is really good because use tax receipts from internet purchases came in 29% higher than last year.

• 2021-22 613,473
• 2022-23  791,241

Francis also pointed out that the city is bringing in $7,000 to $7,500 monthly from the Transportation Development District half-cent tax that’s collected by businesses on East Street on top of the other sales taxes.

In other action:

• It was reported that just under $4,000 was raised Thursday by the Burgers & Badges annual event.

• Melton announced that the Silent Arms organization has contributed $1,177 from a fundraiser to the police department, which will purchase 15,000 rounds of 9 mm practice ammunition (valued at $3,135).

• Heath Covey’s request to renew his special use permit to operate S&J Processing at 1807 Stadium Drive was accepted on first reading. Special use permits are generally supposed to be renewed every two years.

• A $48,232 Emergency Management Performance Grant was accepted from the State Emergency Management Agency. The grant, to be matched by the city, is to pay one fourth of the salaries and benefits of Police Chief Don Melton and Fire Chief Andrew Roughton for their roles as director and assistant director of emergency management.

• Lee Ann Crider, executive director of the Webb City Area Chamber of Commerce, updated the council on the chamber’s activities, including the annual awards banquet at 6 p.m. Thursday at Analine Acres.