Budget, flights and future priorities top Joplin mayor’s latest update

Joplin Mayor Rob O’Brian says city leaders are preparing for a busy stretch that includes budget work, a renewed push for public input and a possible change in commercial air service at Joplin Regional Airport.

O’Brian discussed the issues Monday on KZRG after returning from the Missouri Municipal League’s annual conference at the Lake of the Ozarks, where Joplin received a 2026 Innovation Award for MOmentum Bike Park.

The park opened last November with mountain biking trails, a BMX pump track and a children’s bicycle playground. O’Brian said one of his biggest takeaways from the conference was seeing how other cities are using technology and new outreach methods to gather more input from residents.

City Manager Nick Edwards has discussed launching another broad community survey similar to one used several years ago to help shape Joplin’s current priorities. O’Brian said the next round of feedback could help guide city goals for the next four or five years.

“I think one of the things that really struck me in the conference was some of the creative ways the communities are looking at to gain more citizen input, obviously using technology,” O’Brian said.

The City Council is also preparing for budget work sessions Tuesday and Wednesday as members begin reviewing a proposed fiscal year 2027 budget totaling nearly $170.8 million.

O’Brian said roughly half of city funding comes from various sales taxes, while some of the largest expenses involve capital projects such as streets, parks and airport improvements. Police and fire also account for a significant share of personnel costs.

Council members will review spending department by department and consider possible changes before the final budget is adopted. The work sessions are open to the public.

City leaders will also consider a possible switch from Chicago to Houston service at Joplin Regional Airport.

SkyWest currently provides United Airlines service from Joplin to Chicago and Denver, but FAA restrictions tied to construction at Chicago O’Hare are expected to force the Chicago flight to a 5 a.m. departure from Joplin beginning in December.

Airport officials say that schedule would also make return connections difficult because the Chicago-to-Joplin flight would leave O’Hare at 7:40 a.m.

The Joplin Airport Board is recommending the city and SkyWest ask the U.S. Department of Transportation for permission to replace Chicago with Houston as early as March 2027.

Under that proposal, the Houston flight would leave Joplin around 7:40 a.m., with the return flight departing Houston around noon.

A 2025 demand study cited by the city found the Joplin-area travel market generates about 50,000 passengers to and from Houston, compared with about 30,000 to and from Chicago. Houston ranked as the third-largest market for travelers in Joplin’s catchment area, while Chicago ranked 10th.

The change would still require federal approval and could be temporary. Joplin’s Essential Air Service contract is also going back out for bid, meaning Chicago or another destination could return when the new contract begins next year.

Flights between Joplin and Denver are not expected to change.