Independence budget briefing: staff recommends near-term steps as general fund faces substantial drawdown

City Manager West and finance staff presented an overview Wednesday of the city’s fiscal outlook and short-term budget choices as Independence prepares its 2025–26 budget. West said staff will present a balanced budget to the budget committee beginning March 31 and asked the council for direction on staffing, program reductions and possible revenue steps.

West said the city’s general fund balance is small relative to peer cities and that, under status-quo assumptions, the city will draw down the general fund to a potentially dangerous level. “It’s looking like we’re gonna reduce general fund fund dollars by another half million dollars,” West told the council, summarizing staff forecasts. He said that achieving a structurally balanced budget for 2025–26 will likely require a combination of reduced expenditures and new revenue sources.

Staff identified several near-term options and work streams:

- Combine museum and library operations: Staff and directors of both institutions have discussed co-locating collections and programming to reduce operating costs. Presenters said combining the museum and library into a single building and selling the existing museum site could reduce operating and maintenance costs and eliminate a mortgage payment; staff…