Citizens invited to Public Hearing on FY27 Budget

The City of Joplin has published its proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2027, and Joplin residents are invited to review the document and provide their input at the City Council’s upcoming public hearing on the budget.

The public hearing is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 24, at 6 p.m. It will be held in the City Council Chambers on the 5th floor of City Hall, 602 S. Main, Joplin. 

The 2027 budget year begins Nov. 1, 2026, and runs through Oct. 31, 2027. The City Council has set goals, and staff have identified strategies and prepared budgets to meet those priorities. Altogether, City Manager Nick Edwards is recommending a $170.8 million comprehensive expenditures budget to support the work of the City’s 15 departments. 

The budget document serves many purposes – it is a policy document, a financial plan, and an operations guide. 

The City Council will also hold budget work sessions on Sept. 22 and 23, and citizens are encouraged to attend. Each session will begin at 5:45 p.m. and be held in Council Chambers. The public will have an opportunity to ask questions and provide comments regarding the City budget at these work sessions.

For citizens unable to attend the meetings, they will be livestreamed on the City Council’s page of the City of Joplin website and can also be viewed online after the meeting dates. 

“This budget reflects our continued commitment to responsible stewardship of public resources, maintaining essential services, investing in infrastructure, and advancing the City Council’s priorities that support Joplin’s long-term vitality,” Edwards said in his message to Council. “It has been developed with careful attention to current economic conditions, operational needs, and the expectations of our residents.” 

The City Manager’s full annual budget message, which provides an overview of the projects and services proposed for the upcoming year, can be viewed at:
https://www.joplinmo.org/m/NewsFlash/home/detail/4031. 

The Proposed Budget for the City of Joplin for FY27 is posted online at:
https://www.joplinmo.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/19430. 

Copies of the City’s proposed budget can also be viewed in the reference section of the Joplin Public Library at 1901 East 20th Street.