Belton City Council adopts FY2026 budget, approves water/sewer rate changes and several event measures

Belton City Council on a series of motions approved the city’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, adopted changes to water and sewer user rates, authorized early redemption of a series of refunding bonds and approved contracts and multiple street-closure requests for downtown events.

The council approved the FY2026 budget (Bill 2025-12) on final reading and adopted an ordinance amending water and sewer user rates (Bill 2025-13). Council also authorized redemption of the City’s outstanding general obligation refunding bonds, series 2013, and approved a professional services agreement for a Unified Development Code update with Multi Studio.

The approvals included a mix of roll-call and voice votes. On the budget (Bill 2025-12), the roll call recorded Council member Lawson, Council member Johnson, Council member Davidson, Council member Richardson, Council member McCallum, Council member Thompson, Council member White, and Mayor Larky voting in favor; the motion carried. The rate changes (Bill 2025-13) and the mayor’s salary adjustment (Bill 2025-14) were also approved after discussion and roll-call votes. The council voted to redeem the 2013 refunding bonds early to save roughly $36,000 in interest over the remaining term; that measure passed after a double-reading and roll call.

Council approved resolutions to permit street closures for multiple recurring downtown events, including the Fraternal Order of Eagles car cruises (Resolution 2025-21), Carrie Nation Days (Resolution 2025-22) and downtown events requested by Downtown Belton Main Street Inc. (Resolution 2025-23). The council also authorized a memorandum of understanding between the city and Downtown Belton Main Street Inc. to provide event support (Resolution 2025-24).

The meeting also included consent-agenda approvals, communications from council members, and a presentation and discussion about the city’s waterline replacement program and a proposed advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) project (see separate article). The council later voted to go into executive session under Missouri statute 610.021 for specified legal and real-estate topics.

Votes at a glance: - Bill 2025-12, Ordinance adopting FY2026 budget (final reading): motion carried (roll call recorded multiple ayes; motion carries). - Bill 2025-13, Ordinance amending water/sewer user rates: motion carried (roll call recorded ayes; motion carries). - Bill 2025-14, Ordinance authorizing salary adjustment for the mayor effective 04/15/2025: motion carried (roll call recorded ayes and two no votes; motion passes). - Bill 2025-15, Ordinance authorizing redemption of General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2013: approved after double reading; motion carries (roll call unanimous). - Resolution 2025-20, Professional services agreement with Multi Studio for Unified Development Code update (contract amount $100,000): approved (voice vote). - Resolution 2025-21, Approving Fraternal Order of Eagles street closures for car cruises: approved (voice vote). - Resolution 2025-22, Approving Belton Park Department street closures for Carrie Nation Days: approved (voice vote). - Resolution 2025-23, Approving Downtown Belton Main Street Inc. closures for events in 2025: approved (voice vote). - Resolution 2025-24, Memorandum of understanding between Belton and Downtown Belton Main Street Inc. to provide event support: approved (voice vote).

The council took the actions during a regularly scheduled meeting; several items had been discussed previously at work sessions and on first reading. Where roll-call votes were recorded, the official vote language in the minutes was used to reflect the outcome; voice-vote approvals were recorded as carried when the chair called the motion carried.