Council considers $381M budget

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During a brief meeting last night, Springfield City Council held preliminary budget discussions.

Teresa Allen, Springfield’s budget coordinator, told council the citywide fiscal 2020 budget is proposed at $381 million. The proposed budget is 4.1% higher than the current fiscal year’s $366 million budget.

“Sales tax, the city’s primary driving source at 35%, has been strong this current budget year, and we’re proposing a modest increase in FY ’20 over where we anticipate to end FY ’19,” Allen said, pointing to the end of the city’s fiscal year on June 30.

The budget calls for roughly $86 million in proposed general fund appropriations, with revenue mostly comprising general sales tax collections of $47.2 million and payment in lieu of taxes at nearly $16 million, according to city documents. The general fund makes up about 23% of the budget, Allen said.

The proposed budget has $126.6 million for expenditures and appropriations, according to city documents. Appropriations include police pension funds, transportation and operating costs and emergency communications, she said.

“The largest segment of the budget are special revenue funds, making up 33% of total appropriations,” Allen said.

Enterprise funds, including those for the airport, clean water services and solid waste, make up 24% of the budget at a proposed $92 million.

The proposed budget was reviewed by council four times over the last month, according to city documents. Council is scheduled to take a budget vote June 3.