Joplin revenues slightly ahead of projections as city prepares next budget

Joplin’s revenue is running about 3% above budget projections as city officials begin preparing the next fiscal year’s spending plan.

Mayor Rob O’Brian told the KZRG Morning Newswatch the city’s finance director typically uses a conservative growth estimate of about 2%.

“That’s a little bit of breathing room — not a lot, but a little bit,” O’Brian added.

Higher prices have helped generate additional sales tax revenue, but O’Brian noted that inflation is also increasing the city’s expenses.

A public hearing on the proposed budget is scheduled for Aug. 24. The City Council will hold several work sessions in September, with final adoption expected in October.

The council will also consider purchasing seven take-home police vehicles. About $400,000 was previously added to the budget for the purchase. O’Brian said the vehicles act as mobile offices and allow officers called in after hours to respond directly from home.

Meanwhile, construction on the West 20th Street roundabout at Central City Road could be completed around October. The project includes widening 20th Street and adding sidewalks between Iron Gates Road and Schifferdecker Avenue.

“The work is really proceeding well,” O’Brian said. “A lot of work is still going on out there, but it’s starting to wind down.”

O’Brian and other local officials also recently toured a 500-acre data center construction site near Smithville. The six-year project includes five buildings of about 300,000 square feet each and currently employs roughly 1,300 construction workers.

The facility uses a closed-loop water system. O’Brian said the visit offered local leaders a closer look at the possible benefits and infrastructure demands of a data center development.

“It certainly gave us some good insights should one come this way,” O’Brian concluded.