Take a Journey Through Christmas Wonderland in Alton Grandpa Gang...
Read More
2% raise for most city employees
Florissant Budget For Next Fiscal Year Down Slightly
By Carol Arnett
Florissant Mayor Tom Schneider gave his proposed $33 million budget to the city council last week. The council will hold a public hearing on the budget at the next council meeting on Monday, Oct. 13. The city’s fiscal year runs from Dec. 1 – Nov. 30.
The council must pass an ordinance to put the budget into effect. The proposed budget totals $33,001,099, less than the 2014 budget of $34,864,196. The city uses different funds for individually budgeted items. The largest fund by far is the General Fund, with a proposed budget of $25,248,682. The Capital Improvement Fund is proposed at $3,269,175, the Park Improvement Fund Is proposed at $3,490,334, the Sewer Lateral Fund at $797,908, and the Property Revitalization Fund at $195,000. More than half of the revenue for the General Fund comes from taxes.
The city projects that it will collect $125,000 from cigarette taxes, $1,550,000 from gasoline taxes, $550,000 from road and bridge taxes, $7,500,000 from sales taxes, and $6,400,000 from utility taxes. The proposed revenue from taxes is up from last year by approximately $500,000.
The General Fund also earns money from licenses, permits, and recreation sales and fees. The fund also receives $2,550,000 from municipal court.
Projected expenditures for the fund are higher than projected revenue, which is $23,312,000. The difference is projected to be $1,931,882.
The Property Revitalization Fund was created in fiscal year 2014. At that time, the city council appropriated $500,000 to the fund. The fund pays for two programs, the Property Acquisition Program and the Homeownership Assistance Program. The first allows the city to acquire properties in the city that are being sold by the county for delinquent taxes. The city can them bring the properties into compliance with city code and sell them. The second fund is used to provide forgivable loans up to $6,000 that can be used as part of a down payment for new residents.
Expenditures in the proposed budget include a 2% pay raise for most full-time city employees. There is no increase proposed for part-time positions.
The police department again has the largest budget of any department in the city at a proposed $10,798,734. The department has 111 full-time employees, approximately 47% of full-time city employees. The proposed budget includes funds for the purchase of eight new vehicles.
The Park Improvement Fund budget includes $666,600 for capital additions, including new vehicles and mowers, and sandblasting and painting the indoor pool and the Koch Park lazy river. $310,000 is allocated for the renovation of Tower Court Park. The city expects to receive $280,000 in reimbursement from grants for this project.
