Quick, name the one thing the city does that has the biggest impact on the spending of taxpayer dollars each year, but mostly goes unnoticed by those same taxpayers?
Did you guess it? It's the city's budget process, and it's starting now for the fiscal year that begins Nov. 1.
On Tuesday, we reported that Mayor Carrie Tergin presented her proposed 2018 budget draft to the Jefferson City Council during the first city Budget Committee meeting the previous day. It contains few changes from last year.
The mayor is proposing a budget of $63,353,702, an increase of $223,085 (0.7 percent) from last year. That increase is based on a slight increase of projected sales and use taxes, intergovernmental taxes, property taxes and interest income.
The budget proposes about $30.9 million in expenses. Part of the expenses would include a 2 percent salary/wage adjustment for full-time city employees, as well as part-time employees with benefits. This pay raise would cost slightly more than $530,000 across all funds.
City Administrator Steve Crowell said he thought the proposed 2 percent should be increased if the city wants to fund its "pay for performance" philosophy.
So why should you care? Because the mayor's proposed budget is an early step in the process. Now, your elected representatives on the City Council will consider funding for each of the city's departments and divisions. It's these council members who will make changes and give final approval to the budget.
If you want a say in how the $63 million pie is sliced for city services, now is your chance to be heard.
How do you feel about the pay plan for city employees? Should more money be set aside for stormwater issues, as some have suggested? Should the budget fund five new police vehicles and an animal control truck, as well as replace four inspection vehicles and a one-ton heavy duty pickup for the city's Public Works Department? That's part of the current funding plan.
Granted, some budget items are more "set in stone" than others. So, depending on your priorities, your pleas to fund/defund certain things could be an uphill battle.
But this is your tax money, and you have a say in how it's spent. Take some time to study the budget (www.jeffersoncitymo.gov/government/budget.php), then let your council representatives know how you feel.
The city's Budget Committee meeting's are open to the public. The next one will be held at 5:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall.