The Jefferson City Council is inviting public comment on the draft 2015 budget at its regular council meeting Monday.
The council has spent the last month in budget discussions going through every aspect of Mayor Eric Struemph's draft budget for the 2015 fiscal year. Discussion is expected to continue at the next budget committee meeting Oct. 9, when council members will begin debating items placed on the parking lot.
So far, parking lot items have made expenditures outpace expected revenues by more than $160,000. Items on the parking lot include: An administrative assistant position in the Human Resources Department - cost of $48,615;
Funds to reinstate the citywide internship program - cost of $27,558;
Funds for one part-time, no benefit position in municipal court - cost of $8,000 (which will come from the parking fund and have no effect on the general revenue budget);
Funds for a reconnaissance survey of more than 200 homes near the West Main Street area - cost of $15,000;
Funds for one additional police officer - cost of $53,292;
Funds for one additional firefighter - cost of $57,145;
Funds for a new global navigation satellite in the engineering division - cost of $18,900;
Eliminating security funds from the mayor and council budget - savings of $1,500; and
Eliminating training and education funds from the mayor and council budget - savings of $1,400.
The council also adjusted sales tax revenues for the 2015 fiscal year to more closely reflect a three-year average of receipts, which reduced the revenues by roughly $56,000. The council also has some last minute savings for the next fiscal year from the merging of the finance and IT departments, which is estimated to save about $104,000 in the next fiscal year.
Multiple items for the wastewater division also were approved, but all would be funded from the wastewater's own fund balance and would not affect the general revenue budget.
Fifth Ward Councilman Larry Henry urged people to take advantage of the opportunity to voice their opinion on the budget, adding that often no one shows up to public hearings in front of the council.
The City Council meeting is set for 6 p.m. Monday at City Hall. All draft budget documents can be found at jeffcitymo.org/council/budgetmeetings.html.