City of Hazelwood Experiencing Fiscal Woes

Post author:independentnws
Post published:June 28, 2022
Post category:Business News / City Government / County Government / Features / Hazelwood / Missouri

Bankrupty Concerns Force
Cancellation of Hazelwood
July 4th Fireworks Display

The annual fireworks display for the City of Hazelwood has been canceled again this year as Mayor Matt Robinson has sent a letter to residents that the city could be facing bankruptcy.
Many city venues have been affected. Popular programs like leaf collection in the fall, limb collection in the spring, opening Civic Center East on Dunn Rd…they can’t be restored without “a more secure financial position.”
Mayor Robinson said in his letter that “if bankruptcy occurs, core city services such as police, fire, street maintenance and snow plowing will continue but in a much reduced capacity.”
Most of this concern about bankruptcy revolves around a contract with the Robertson Fire District, which city officials have long stated, was unfair and that the city needs to break away from (the bills from Robertson FPD). Federal stimulus money had provided funds to aid the city. The two sides have been fighting for years in the courts over a contract that forces Hazelwood to pay extra for services in an area the city had already been serving.
Robinson said in his letter there is also good news. He wrote:
“Due to federal stimulus money from the CARES Act and ARPA, the City has been able to maintain its financial footing. The City’s economic development efforts have also begun to pay off. You have undoubtedly seen the many new warehouses in Aviator (the old Ford plant), Hazelwood Logistics Center, and Hazelwood TradePort. There are over 1,000 new jobs in Hazelwood. The City, through program and budget reductions, has been able to maintain reasonable reserves and fund balances.”
The City terminated the contract with Robertson Fire Protection District due to the excessive cost and mismanagement of taxpayer money by the Board of Directors. Nevertheless, the “City continues to pay Robertson the amount they levied in 2021, over $4.5 million per year. If the City can obtain a more reasonable cost, closer to what Hazelwood pays for fire service in the area served by the Hazelwood Fire Department, these programs can be brought back.”