[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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",[32,76],{"_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":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6132355,"mediaKeyId","5722869-6c8cf98a7132868ffbc52ec935c7580d","parentId",5722869,"title","Transit operating grant falls about $400,000; draft budget adds transfers and a transit‑study match","audioSeconds",189,"startMs",135000,"endMs",324000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5722869-6c8cf98a7132868ffbc52ec935c7580d&start=135&end=324","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5722869-6c8cf98a7132868ffbc52ec935c7580d/thumbnail_135000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6132355/Missouri/Transit-operating-grant-falls-about-400000-draft-budget-adds-transfers-and-a-transitstudy-match","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6132355-d6f670e534192166894f98477347d29a/orig.mp4?Expires=1774856325&Signature=PIfHMu8tEZxSpZctIbud~dU0WlQcp901lEeD4lMx1WIa9hJQN1CGbKIbQYhLYGrBSkMpQ3NgZPdxdbbOu7Z8-kGuFrRcl2UCeL4LERuzo4VsQ3GWkiiI1G0lLIhVeGTIxZUEwcLl5l-uIXW54VW2fd5XQnzlcgi~lMPq6LvIUVuuCUGTSu3UvFlw5DrNY9OvLRn7Usr~5zq0IF3eqKq1loZ1RjomtiBUluJ-Eh-M1nDr9LGNEsffVbR27tTMWUTnYiAN2d6JYAKH0A13WhRP5ehU-jDdqcpOlYuGephni~YUQCQt7iXIZbMgRZO~kwr7uqfP28Hfm9v9MyTa0BMhJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Jefferson, Missouri","date","2025-09-05T11:13:20Z","article","At a City Budget Committee meeting (date not specified), staff reported that the city’s federal operating grant for transit is down by about $400,000 compared with the prior year, a change staff tied to lower 2023 ridership caused by staffing and service adjustments. In response, the draft budget increases the transfer from the general fund by roughly $400,000 and includes about $300,000 from surplus to balance transit operations.

Director Brimmer, presenting enterprise funds, said the reduction was tied to 2023 ridership: \"our federal operating grant were down, 400,000 or so,\" and explained that grant formulas track ridership levels over time. Brimmer also noted one expense in the transit budget: a $25,000 local match for a transit study, with CAMPO funding approximately 80% of the study cost so the city’s share is roughly $25,000.

Context and implications: staff said ridership is improving and that the city has pursued measures to recruit and retain drivers and increase school rider participation. Staff framed the $25,000 study match as the city’s required share of a larger planning grant; no formal action was taken beyond placing the amounts in the draft budget.

Additional details from the discussion:
- The transit budget draft shows a combination of increased transfer from the general fund (about $400,000) and roughly $300,000 from surplus to address the grant shortfall.
- Staff said a transit study appears in the expense side with $25,000 as the city’s match toward a study CAMPO is funding at approximately 80%.
- Committee members asked whether ridership has returned; staff said ridership is steadily improving and emphasized efforts to recruit drivers and coordinate with school schedules to increase boardings.

Next steps: the transit line items are part of the overall draft budget; committee members may submit amendments by the finance deadline (September 12) for committee review on September 18 and possible inclusion in the substitute budget that would go to the full council for a vote in early October.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Jefferson - Budget Committee Meeting 09.04.2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff told the Budget Committee that the transit federal operating grant is down roughly $400,000 because 2023 ridership declined; the draft budget increases transfers from the general fund and includes a $25,000 local match for a transit study (CAMPO is covering the balance).","taxTitle","Jefferson City, Cole County, Missouri","taxId",65810,"location","Missouri","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6132360,"Budget committee’s draft directs $815,000 in wastewater gross‑receipts utility tax toward streets in draft budget",1433,323000,1756000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5722869-6c8cf98a7132868ffbc52ec935c7580d&start=323&end=1756","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5722869-6c8cf98a7132868ffbc52ec935c7580d/thumbnail_323000.jpg","/articles/6132360/Missouri/Budget-committees-draft-directs-815000-in-wastewater-grossreceipts-utility-tax-toward-streets-in-draft-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6132360-cc2a887e9d27861ba8517b8229cde9b1/orig.mp4?Expires=1774856325&Signature=MphkZX7G60qACuDXE0j~CPfq51ACpi5lFeh9SE5W2wl1IYBi8yi6Xi3zusLPafAdCzFwG080Pi67XnPL88x~OgxuCGi37Z0zx1c20Map6u45eitn9c4K83h~x58r2v3B2nh~yIOXVe14hvo98veR0XcWMgDSfYxikQ87dqxxIpjSI0z5eOG6h6rVPoGiV-bJfPLPfC51p0xxr5PZJVfoy9FBZvZp63ZvVciTKB14L3lCGLpmVdaHlMgXtbsRd-QOpbHID3LvglrKK~MqYfwcl-~NhUogMTwfNh5x7ukP4YbqLZNX4wf-OR6rSkYkONIEKxfB75LQRUZ3pKParNN-Sg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a City Budget Committee meeting (date not specified), staff presented a draft budget that includes $815,000 from gross‑receipts utility tax revenues associated with the wastewater utility to be applied to street funding in the coming fiscal year. The committee discussed the size of the wastewater fund balance, existing capital projects, bond considerations and the process required to change utility tax rates.

The proposal is part of a broader presentation on enterprise funds; staff said the wastewater fund would still record a $1,200,000 transfer to surplus and that the draft budget contains $1,200,000 for wastewater capital projects. Sheila Perry, finance staff, called the approach “creative,” and staff emphasized the wastewater fund remains substantially funded compared with other city funds. “The wastewater fund at the end of FY24 has a fund balance of $11,806,000,” staff said, noting total budgeted expenditures for the fund this year are $14,000,372.

Why it matters: committee members pressed that using utility tax receipts for streets can improve near‑term street funding but could affect long‑term financial metrics that affect bond pricing and future capital decisions. Staff said bond counsel was consulted and provided no adverse feedback on the proposal, and noted the city’s financial policy requires a 17% fund balance for the general fund; by contrast the wastewater fund’s balance is much higher than that percentage.

Key details from the discussion:
- Staff said the wastewater budget shows an $815,000 line in the administrative budget tied to gross‑receipts utility tax receipts that the draft would use to help streets. The presentation also shows a $1,200,000 transfer to fund balance and $1,200,000 in capital projects for wastewater in the draft budget.
- Staff described several capital projects listed in the draft: rehabilitation or replacement on West Main/West High/Hart Street collection lines; collection work related to the Fairmont and Lee Street/Dockery/Cordell areas near Morrow Drive; and smaller collection improvements tied to an upcoming stormwater project.
- Staff noted existing wastewater bonds remain outstanding; principal and interest for existing bonds are included in administrative accounts. Staff cautioned that drawing down a fund balance can affect bond ratings and future borrowing costs, and recommended caution for any large, permanent shift in reserves.
- Staff reported they contacted bond counsel before proposing the allocation and said they received no negative feedback.
- Committee members asked about governance and the process for changing gross‑receipts utility tax rates. Staff said changes to certain utility taxes that predate state restrictions could require a public vote under the Hancock Amendment; by contrast, the city’s internal allocation of a gross‑receipts utility tax specific to wastewater could be adjusted by council action and would likely be handled via a budget amendment, subject to public‑hearing steps when required.

Dissent and caution: several committee members said they support finding more money for streets but asked that staff ensure the wastewater utility is not left undercapitalized in the future. Staff repeatedly affirmed the wastewater fund would remain positive after the proposed allocation and that the administration intends to recommend a rate study for utility rates to guide decisions beyond the current budget window.

Next steps and process: staff reminded committee members that proposed amendments to the draft budget are due to finance by September 12 (deadline provided during the meeting), the committee will meet to consider amendments on September 18, and the city council meeting to vote on the budget is scheduled for October 6 (with an October 20 fallback date if needed). Any formal changes approved by the committee will be incorporated into a substitute budget bill that staff will attach account‑level details to before the full council vote.

No formal policy change was adopted at the meeting; committee members directed staff to prepare materials and to proceed with the regular amendment and public‑hearing schedule.","City staff and committee members discussed routing $815,000 from wastewater gross‑receipts utility tax receipts into street funding in the draft budget, while noting the wastewater fund retains a large reserve and that some tax changes would require additional approvals.","actionData","errors"]

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Transit operating grant falls about $400,000; draft budget adds transfers and a transit‑study match

Budget committee’s draft directs $815,000 in wastewater gross‑receipts utility tax toward streets in draft budget