CARTHAGE, Mo. —
The Carthage City Council on Tuesday advanced an annual budget that sets general fund spending at $8.2 million — up 8.9 percent for the fiscal year that starts July 1.
The increase comes after spending cutbacks in the past several years because of the economic downturn. City revenues grew in the current fiscal year, primarily because of increased economic activity as a result of the Joplin tornado.
Sales tax collections, the city’s largest single revenue source, are up 17.8 percent compared with those of last year. But projections for next year are “a lot more conservative,” said Tom Short, city administrator.
Final action on the spending plan is set for June 26.
The final budget apparently will not include an increase in Fire Department spending, despite efforts by Councilman Ed Hardesty on Tuesday.
Acknowledging that he is a retired firefighter, Hardesty cited the importance of reliable firefighting equipment and offered a motion to boost the department’s budget by $50,000 for maintenance of vehicles.
Spending estimates for the department are down slightly from the current year’s, the councilman said, even though voters earlier in the year approved a quarter-cent fire services sales tax that is estimated to generate $400,000 annually.
Councilman Jim Swatsenbarg, chairman of the budget committee, noted that the tax is to address a variety of needs and allow some funds going to the Fire Department to be spent in other areas.
“The Fire Department budget is $1.5 million, but when we asked the citizens to pass the sales tax, we never told them it was so we could increase their budget to $1.9 million,” he said.
He noted that the tax has generated about $39,000 since collections began two months ago, while the city has allocated $600,000 toward the purchase of a new firetruck and storm sirens.
“In the next two years, (Fire Department) spending will be higher,” he said.
Hardesty’s motion was defeated 2-8, with votes in favor from him and Councilman Lee Carlson.
The council also advanced budget-related measures regarding contracts with organizations that provide services to the city. The measures would allocate $106,720 to the Carthage Chamber of Commerce, $120,000 to the Carthage Convention and Visitors Bureau, $20,000 to the Carthage Over-60 Center, and $30,000 to the Carthage Humane Society.
In other business, the council:
• Approved two resolutions to authorize the refinancing of revenue bonds that were issued to fund electric, water and wastewater improvements. The action is expected to save the city $350,000 on bonds totaling about $4.5 million.
• Accepted a $25,000 grant for the Fire Department from the Steadley Foundation.
• Approved the sale of three pieces of fire equipment, declared surplus, at a total cost of $34,250 to Firemaster Inc., the Redings Mill Fire Department and the Pineville Fire Department.
• Accepted a bid of $27,665 on a new Ford F-350 truck for the Fire Department, plus a bid of $35,125 on equipment to outfit the vehicle for firefighting in rural areas.
• OK’d a cellular telephone tower to be erected, temporarily, at 125 E. Fairview Ave. during the Marian Days celebration in August.
Fireworks
The Carthage council on Tuesday authorized a contract with Liberty Pyrotechnics of Joplin, at $4,980, to provide the city’s fireworks display on July 4.
Local News
Carthage City Council advances annual budget
- Local News
-
-
City Manager: CID owes Neosho $158,257
The Big Spring Plaza Community Improvement District owes Neosho $158,257, City Manager Troy Royer told the Neosho City Council on Tuesday.
-
Proposal would reduce 20th Street to two lanes
A design proposal that would convert much of 20th Street into two lanes instead of four from Main Street to Campbell Parkway to make room for streetscape and green features did not draw much public support on Tuesday.
-
Local runners show support for Boston in cross-country relay
After completing the Boston Marathon on April 15, Ashleigh Beyersdorfer made her way through the throngs of runners to retrieve the bag she had checked in and was on her way to meet up with her family when she heard the explosions.
-
MSSU board to complete terms of president’s departure
The Board of Governors of Missouri Southern State University will meet Wednesday to complete the terms of the agreement that terminated President Bruce Speck’s contract, board Chairwoman Sherry Buchanan said.
-
State’s key witness testifies in murder trial
The fate of Dustin Boggs may ultimately depend on the credibility of Arturo Council. If jurors believe Council, then Boggs, 25, could be convicted of first-degree murder in the 2012 stabbing and shooting death of his ex-girlfriend, Danyel Borden, 21, at his trial this week in Ottawa County District Court.
-
Swimmers attempt to set world record
Even before the instructor had finished giving his direction to the class of young swimmers, 4-year-old Alexa DeBerry had dunked herself underwater and had come up giggling.
-
Jasper County to start enforcing newly adopted nuisance ordinance
Jasper County has received 15 complaints based on a new nuisance ordinance adopted earlier this spring, members of the County Commission said Tuesday. John Bartosh, presiding commissioner, said he and the other commissioners reviewed the complaints during a meeting last week with workers at the Jasper County Health Department.
-
Neosho School Board votes to boost custodians’ salaries
Action taken Monday night by the Neosho Board of Education on salaries was designed partly to retain custodians. The measure approved by the board gives custodians, with a starting salary of $8.77 an hour, a 10 percent raise.
-
Mike Pound: Carthage holding parties for a good cause
When my wife told me that we were going to host a party, I had only one question: Why? My wife might be the party-hosting sort of person, but I am not. She said this party was for a good cause. She also told me that our friends Lana and Bill, Lee Ann and Rob, and Amy and Jimmy were going to help host it.
-
Missouri moves to lift ban on foreign farm owners
Weeks before a Chinese conglomerate agreed to buy Smithfield Foods Inc. in the largest such takeover of a U.S. business, Missouri lawmakers quietly approved legislation removing a ban on foreign ownership of agricultural land.
- More Local News Headlines
-
City Manager: CID owes Neosho $158,257
