[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6207906,"mediaKeyId","3750544-594f422d7f15d5494f616cc7adc3b125","parentId",3750544,"title","Public hearing on FY2026 budget includes proposed utility rate increases; resident warns of hardship","audioSeconds",310,"startMs",1819000,"endMs",2129000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3750544-594f422d7f15d5494f616cc7adc3b125&start=1819&end=2129","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3750544-594f422d7f15d5494f616cc7adc3b125/thumbnail_1819000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6207906/Lebanon-City/Laclede-County/Missouri/Public-hearing-on-FY2026-budget-includes-proposed-utility-rate-increases-resident-warns-of-hardship","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6207906-a2be03e34e02e3cef2950d8c5bfaed76/orig.mp4?Expires=1776483260&Signature=R8DB3-t~QsAWrgS2w14Z43HYTaGanG79durNcE4JOzwjiEQSXOdQ1QEJJ6X1e9aYyEbmp-hx7bORs6kMVuuDrMqM804CHxHsqv-G9XBswFcJKVthC2ZmWiG478DafY1MiVqW-exJ00VQtq5YUrVzefS6MY86NTodjEV-ftBJym9GEMmoDnS2BEmSA7202Mm8V4hofs8yJfxBxLZmBznJ0~bRWEs2tnlv2GPn2pfButr1cFk1xM0daeME5aD2YdcQYEhsqRMpMOunuF6VFTN-uhSYJGPIA~lZlClGQLn0QsHLKamsMu7FTSckS3R5YOidg6g0cWOxgTKBQ7Vti~fgtw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Lebanon, MO","date","2025-06-11T01:08:36.047Z","article","City staff presented the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget at a June 9 public hearing, saying the plan totals about $73.4 million and incorporates recommended fee increases for the city’s utilities, including wastewater and water rates.

Perez, a city staff member presenting the budget, told the council the draft budget represents roughly a 4.3% increase over the prior year and includes salary adjustments for public safety, benefit changes, and capital project funding. The presentation noted the utility-rate changes had been recommended by the board of public works and are embedded in the draft budget.

A staff presentation of the wastewater cost-of-service study and proposed rate structure described a set of adjustments to fixed monthly fees and volumetric charges over a three-year plan. The presenter said the proposed 2026 wastewater changes would raise the average residential customer’s bill by $3.39 a month and move fixed fees and usage charges in several tiers; for example, the presenter reported a residential fixed fee moving to $27.20 (from a lower amount stated in the study) and volumetric rates changing at multiple consumption tiers. The presenter also said commercial customers with a 1-inch meter would see a fixed-fee increase of about $5 per month (from $45.69 to $50.69) plus changes to consumption rates.

The presenter said the city paid roughly $32,000 for three utility cost-of-service reviews and that the adjustments are scheduled to take effect July 1 as part of the FY2026 budget if the council approves the budget.

During public comment, resident Glenn Gonzalez cited U.S. Census and federal poverty thresholds and urged caution before increasing utility rates. Gonzalez told the council the median household income in Lebanon fell from $45,634 to $42,157 between 2022 and 2023 and that the city’s poverty rate is about 20.5%; he said local food pantries already serve about 1,800 families per month and asked, “is it prudent to increase utility rates?”

City staff and presenters emphasized rising material and construction costs as a driver of the recommended adjustments and said the board of public works reviewed and approved the changes before recommending them to council. Perez said the council will consider final approval of the FY2026 budget at a subsequent meeting; staff indicated the budget and embedded rate changes are scheduled for final consideration on the June 23 meeting agenda.

The council recessed from the public hearing and took no final vote on the budget at the June 9 meeting. Staff said they are available to answer follow-up questions and will provide additional detail to council members on request.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lebanon City Council Meeting - June 9th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff presented the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget at a June 9 public hearing, saying the plan totals about $73.4 million and incorporates recommended fee increases for the city’s utilities, including wastewater and water rates.","taxTitle","Lebanon City, Laclede County, Missouri","taxId",72282,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6207909,"Lebanon council approves 27-year extension, adds parcel to Southdale Center Community Improvement District",2043,388000,2431000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3750544-594f422d7f15d5494f616cc7adc3b125&start=388&end=2431","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3750544-594f422d7f15d5494f616cc7adc3b125/thumbnail_388000.jpg","/articles/6207909/Lebanon-City/Laclede-County/Missouri/Lebanon-council-approves-27-year-extension-adds-parcel-to-Southdale-Center-Community-Improvement-District","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6207909-87950454faffcef1fc204b0f57c1104a/orig.mp4?Expires=1776483260&Signature=NCvPT4~Qvja~aq~eaXnC7lWSB0pYIO7bC~w8sCz~vaV4ZMyS2wqFsl~oskHXxft3zYeoKNw~~9AyKMjy-dK0gxXxTAuvQDa12HT3Kx5M8w-idavYMhJbbR1fkAdOqTkc08OnnrjrI1LcEafnvunsxGKVay9MVJxew3gbJOnLuDEqEearV86ZV6kcCbFrpD6fnhxXbSeprkN8jHPdr64BgHFj0~qIyhFFqJemj60-jmbfWW1z1nWyQP7VfbFZdnFtgjjpL83k4zYkHFYkPqmtcj7qml7pT-qx~MwwLejPWVIN24jRh6-ztkmEV9bszx~XN8Tqy~aeRHdXZ8JoCOH7-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lebanon City Council on Monday approved an amended petition to extend the Southdale Center Community Improvement District for 27 years from the ordinance’s effective date and to add adjacent land currently occupied by an Ashley Furniture store to the district footprint.

The change, approved by roll call vote, directs the city clerk to notify the Missouri Department of Economic Development and would allow the CID to use additional sales-tax revenues to reimburse developer-advanced infrastructure and site work. The petitioner has estimated about $1,800,000 in additional work tied to the annexation and build-out of retail space.

Rob Preston, an attorney with the law firm Spencer Fane representing the developer, described the district to the council as “a special taxing district authorized by the State of Missouri” funded through a 1% sales tax on retail sales inside the district footprint. Preston told the council the original petition covered roughly a $3,000,000 outlay, about $1,000,000 of those costs were certified, and roughly $600,000 has been reimbursed to date.

Curtis Jared, the developer on the Zoom call, said recent market changes — including a bankruptcy sale and follow-up interest from other retailers — prompted the request to annex roughly 2 acres adjacent to Ashley Furniture and to seek the extension so the CID could support new infrastructure, site grading and parking repairs. “We had a lot of different retailers reach out with backup offers…we couldn't do anything until we got through the bankruptcy proceedings,” Jared said.

Preston and Jared told council members the petition asks for the statutory maximum extension (27 years) but that the CID would dissolve earlier if reimbursable costs are paid off. Using figures from the petition’s revenue projection, petitioners said the district is likely to fully reimburse advanced costs around 2042; under state law the petition could extend the district as far as 2052 if revenues fall short of those projections.

Council members asked for historical collection and reimbursement numbers during the hearing; Preston said he did not have complete, audited historical figures in the meeting but offered to provide them to council. Preston said current annual sales-tax receipts collected by the district are roughly $40,000 per year and that annexing the Ashley Furniture parcel and completing planned work could approximately double the district’s taxable base.

The ordinance approved by the council reads that it “extends the term of the district for 27 years from the effective date of this ordinance, adds additional land to the district, and directs the city clerk to notify the Missouri Department of Economic Development of the Amendments.” The council approved the ordinance on a roll-call vote; the ordinance number and effective date were read into the record during the meeting.

Next steps: the city clerk will notify the Missouri Department of Economic Development as directed in the ordinance. The CID, petitioners reiterated, will dissolve automatically under state law once all approved reimbursable costs are paid by the district and there is no city action required to dissolve the district at that time.

The council’s approval authorizes the amended petition; petitioners said they will return information on historical collections and certified costs if council members request further detail.","Lebanon City Council on Monday approved an amended petition to extend the Southdale Center Community Improvement District for 27 years from the ordinance’s effective date and to add adjacent land currently occupied by an Ashley Furniture store to the district footprint.","actionData","errors"]

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Public hearing on FY2026 budget includes proposed utility rate increases; resident warns of hardship

Lebanon council approves 27-year extension, adds parcel to Southdale Center Community Improvement District