Webster Business Commission approves FY2026 budget, accepts scope-of-work; business-license revenue shortfall noted

The Webster Business Commission approved its FY2026 budget and accepted a detailed scope-of-work document during a meeting where commissioners flagged a shortfall in business-license revenue and debated several one-time funding requests.

Commission chair Dave Smith said the commission approved the budget after agreeing to move several line items forward as special requests to city council and to draw on district reserves if needed. The vote to accept the scope of work and the motion to approve the budget passed by voice vote; the transcript does not record a roll-call tally.

Why it matters: The budget sets discretionary funding for decorative street amenities, maintenance and special events and determines whether the commission will request additional city funds for rooftop lighting and signage. Commissioners identified business-license renewals and delayed receipts as the primary reason for narrower revenues in recent years.

Budget numbers and revenue context Gregory Donovan, who presented the budget worksheet and historical revenue data to the commission, said the working revenue figure used in planning is $78,008.60. The commission agreed to plan conservatively but to target recovering business-license revenue: "We're planning on $40,000 of license fees for this year," Donovan said, while also noting that as of the meeting only $12,000 in renewals had been recorded for the current fiscal year. Donovan explained that renewals received after the city's accrual cutoff were recorded against the prior fiscal year.

Commissioners discussed using available reserves and an existing certificate of deposit to fund one-time projects. Gregory Donovan confirmed the district currently has an on‑deposit CD of roughly $53,000 that could be used if the city does not approve special funding requests.

Key expense and one-time requests discussed - Rooftop lighting: commissioners discussed a special funding request for rooftop lighting installation and finishing work on a street-by-street basis. Figures discussed during the meeting ranged from $7,000 to $15,000 for phased work; the commission agreed to include a $15,000 special request to city council while also planning a modest annual line item thereafter. - Parking/wayfinding signage: commissioners asked staff to inventory existing signs and proposed a placeholder request of $7,500 in the budget for sign replacement or refurbishment (the commission also discussed a per-sign estimate of roughly $177 that had been used as a comparison figure). - Disposal and recycling: commissioners recommended increasing the disposal-services line item (trash and recycling) compared with the current amended budget; staff suggested a budget planning number in the $4,000 range for FY2026 after recent contract changes.

Decisions vs. direction - Decision: The commission voted to accept the detailed scope-of-work document (motion passed by voice vote) and then to approve the FY2026 budget as amended in the meeting (motion passed by voice vote). The meeting record does not provide a roll-call tally for these motions. - Direction: Staff were directed to (a) provide an exact count of existing wayfinding and parking signs, (b) coordinate with the city sign shop and private vendors about whether vinyl work could be done in-house or contracted, and (c) continue rooftop-lighting inventory work with Show Me Electric and report back on a firm cost estimate.

Votes at a glance - Motion to approve minutes from last month: approved by voice vote; mover/second and roll-call tally not specified in transcript. - Motion to accept the detailed FY2025 scope-of-work as presented: approved by voice vote; mover/second noted but roll-call tally not specified. - Motion to approve the FY2026 budget as discussed (including special requests for lighting/signage): approved by voice vote; mover/second noted but roll-call tally not specified.

What happens next Staff will return with a sign inventory and firm cost estimates for rooftop lighting and signage. The commission also indicated it will present a special-funding request to the Webster Groves City Council for rooftop lighting and related installs; if council declines, the commission will consider drawing from district reserves and the CD to proceed.

Ending Commissioners set the next regular meeting date and plan to revisit budget line items after staff supply exact sign counts and final contractor estimates for rooftop lighting installations.