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Branson finance committee reports modest Q1 revenue growth; tourism and parks funds rise
Summary
City staff presented first-quarter 2025 financials showing general fund revenues of $8,937,824 (up 1.6% vs. 2024), lower overall expenditures and seasonal collection patterns; board reviewed disbursements over $45,000.
Allison, a finance staff member, presented the city’s quarter‑one 2025 financial report, saying general fund year‑to‑date revenues were $8,937,824, an increase of 1.6% over 2024, and general fund expenditures were $5,781,421, 1.8% less than the previous year.
“All quarter 1 is our slowest month of revenue collections,” Allison said, and staff reported that 25% of the budget year has passed while 33% of budgeted revenues had already been collected and 22% of budgeted expenditures had been spent.
The tourism fund brought in $2,945,121 in quarter 1, an increase of $128,383 compared with 2024; tourism fund expenses were $578,179. Parks and recreation revenues for the period were $757,900 — a 25% increase from 2024 — while parks expenses were 13% lower than a year earlier. Water and sewer utility revenue for the quarter was $2,714,407, about $254,000 more than 2024, with expenses down roughly $86,000.
Staff told the committee that collections are historically lighter in January through March and typically pick up in the third and fourth quarters, a pattern that helps explain why a quarter of the year can produce a larger or smaller share of budgeted revenue depending on seasonality.
Committee members discussed sales tax and tourism tax breakouts. Allison said unrestricted sales tax for 2025 was 3% greater than 2024 and noted small variances between the two half‑cent sales taxes that fund public safety and transportation; she said she would review at the next meeting why those two receipts were not identical.
The committee reviewed disbursements over $45,000 for the first quarter and took questions about specific items. A committee member asked about the annual fountain maintenance fee; Allison said staff would provide the not‑to‑exceed contract amount at the next meeting. A committee member asked whether a $6,607,000 line item for Elevate Branson represented CDBG funds; staff confirmed that the Elevate Branson amount was CDBG funding.
The committee approved the finance committee minutes from Jan. 23, 2025, by voice vote.
