City of Willow Springs passes $7.1 million budget

The Board of Alderman in the City of Willow Springs met in regular session on Dec. 13. In anticipation of the fiscal year beginning Jan. 1, the aldermen reviewed and officially passed the 2023 municipal budget. The balanced $7.17 million budget is more than a $1 million increase from last year. City Administrator Beverly Hicks pointed to significant increase in sales and use tax revenues that have increased alongside inflation. Though revenues have increased, the city's expenses have also increased. 

The upcoming cost-of-living adjustment is 8.7%, a significant increase in payroll expenses. Certain city services will increase in price. Sanitation services will increase by $1.00. Golf memberships have increased 10%, and airport fees has also increased. 

Large, expected expenses will include resurfacing of a water tower and possible electrical and water rate adjustments pending the results of water system and electric rate studies to take place in 2023. 

The budget passed unanimously. 

The aldermen also heard from Main Street Willow Springs, LLC, the nonprofit that owns the dilapidated building at Main and Center. They voted to officially declare it a dangerous building and move forward with enforcing the city's ordinances on dangerous buildings. For more on this story, see the front page. 

Before withdrawing into closed session, Mayor Brooke Fair made and an announcement, "Please be careful. The flu is in full force."

The meeting moved into closed session at 6:18 p.m. and adjourned at 6:26 p.m. with no action taken, record the meeting minutes. 

In other actions, the city passed several contractual agreements pertaining to the 2023 fiscal year, including:

-An agreement to provide supplemental funding to the Willow Springs Chamber of Commerce in the amount of $1,200.

-A contract to support the Willow Springs Public Library in the amount of $39,000.

-An agreement with the Willow Springs Rural Fire Protection Association for rural fire service in 2023

-A contract to support the Ozarks Family YMCA in the amount of $16,200.