The Westphalia Aldermen on March 26 approved a surplus budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year.

Mayor Tammy Massman explained that while the final expenses had all been entered for the budget, there was still potential for increases in the city’s revenues since the city had not received the totals for the interest income, the Osage County Road Tax, and there were several business licenses that had not yet been paid. For now, the city is projecting revenues to total $290,003 and expenses to total $289,875 giving the city a surplus of $128.

“There is the potential for some areas of revenue to increase and give us a more comfortable margin,” Massman explained.

The city’s revenue increased mostly from increased interest income on the account. Massman was able to renegotiate better rates for the city’s accounts and it paid off. The city has received $31,019.36 in interest income to date. They had only expected to receive $7,400. The new fiscal year budget anticipates the city will receive $32,000 in interest income.

The new budget also increased line items for local use tax from $12,000 to $13,000, liquor licenses from $878 to $1,053, business licenses from $1,125 to $1,150, gasoline tax from $13,000 to $13,600, the franchise tax from $19,500 to $20,000, and the Osage County Road Tax from $22,000 to $22,500.

The following revenue lines are expected to decrease slightly: general sales tax from $70,000 to $68,000, and the sewer system from $117,000 to $110,000.

The rest of the revenue line items in the city’s 2024-25 budget remained unchanged from the 2023-24 budget. Total revenue expected is listed as follows: cellular sales tax ($1,300), motor vehicle fee tax ($2,000), vehicle sales tax ($4,200), and storage rental ($1,200).

The city did anticipate some changes in the expenses for the upcoming fiscal year.

The 2024-25 fiscal year shows increases in the line items for contract labor from $20,400 to $26,500, legal and professional services from $5,000 to $8,000, street repairs from $25,000 to $50,000, and utilities from $33,000 to $35,000.

The line item for depreciation was decreased from $30,000 to $25,000, office expenses from $3,250 to $2,750, sidewalks from $15,000 to $10,000, sludge testing and hauling from $10,000 to $7,500, 

The following line items for expenses remained unchanged for the 2023-24 budget: accounting ($1,200), advertising ($250), dues ($1,200), election expenses ($1,500), insurance and security bonds ($6,650), payroll taxes ($4,000), postage ($300), city repairs and maintenance ($25,000), SRD repairs and maintenance ($4,500), salary and wages ($22,500), salt ($2,500), sewer billing ($5,725), sewer repairs and equipment ($10,000), sewer system maintenance ($38,600), and storage rental ($1,200),

Massman reminded the aldermen to think of the budget as a framework for the city.

“There is flexibility there if we want to look at some other projects,” Massman said. Massman will update the revenues as soon as she received the information.

Aldermen approved contracting with Mid Mo Operations for sludge hauling and to clean out all the lift stations at the same time. Curtis Wheat from Mid Mo Operations noted that it would only cost a minimal amount to have the lift stations cleaned out if it was done at the same time as the sludge hauling.

“We haven’t had the lift stations pumped since we took over,” Wheat said. “The pumps do not look like they are getting chewed up but proactive maintenance is probably better than waiting.”

The Board of Aldermen agreed with Massman noting that the lift station had been on a schedule to be pumped out yearly at one time.

Wheat reported that the Devin Lane lift station had a hair scrunchie stuck in it and it tripped an alarm and caused one of the pumps to stop working.  Wheat noted that everything had been taken care of and that parts had been ordered to replace the ones that were used in the repair.

The UV Lights are ready to be turned on April 1 according to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regulations. Wheat noted that they will collect second quarter samples and yearly sludge and soil samples in April.

Wheat also requested that the city have someone to replace the light bulb in the dust to dawn light at the treatment plant.

“Overall things look good,” Wheat said.

• The city will request bids for asphalt repairs on Linn Street up to City View Drive and off-street parking for Maries Avenue. 

“Linn Street it one of the worst ones we have in town as far as the asphalt chipping away,” Alderman Stanely Heckman said.

Massman will follow up with Jefferson Asphalt for an estimate so the aldermen can determine what projects can be done this summer.

• There are several outstanding business licenses that are still unpaid as of the meeting. Massman said that she thought there were five licenses outstanding.

“Traditionally these are the same ones that struggle to get them sent in on time every year,” Massman said. Massman will send out additional reminders.

“There is a penalty fee if they go beyond the date,” Massman said. “Hopefully we won’t have to go that route.”

• Aldermen approved the following expenses for the month: city fund ($12,389.56), sewer system ($8,864.35), and special road district ($2,009.91).

The city of Westphalia had the following receipts for the month: city fund ($11,090.50), sewer ($8,954.68), and special road district ($9,509.32).

The city has the following account balances: city checking ($172,671.52), sewer system checking ($74,088.45), special road district checking ($104,230.63), and special road district savings account ($5,121.65), and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) checking ($54,513.37).

Westphalia holds the following certificates of deposit: city ($449,935.15), sewer system ($534,350.85), and special road district ($536,277.85).

• The next regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 30, at 6 p.m.