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Webster Groves council adopts budget; staff review shows no net increase in permanent FTEs for FY25
Summary
Council adopted the 2025 budget resolution after staff reviewed personnel counts and funding sources, saying recent position additions were grant-funded or shared with partner cities; roll-call votes were unanimous.
Webster Groves city council adopted the city’s FY2025 budget resolution June 17 after a staff review of personnel counts showed no aggregate increase in permanent full-time equivalents (FTEs) entering the new fiscal year.
“we have not, in the aggregate, added staff to increase from fiscal year going into '24 and '25,” Donovan, a city staff presenter, told the council while summarizing a five-year staffing review. He said the positions added in the last two years — including a part-time sustainability coordinator and grant-funded full-time roles — were covered by grants or cost-sharing arrangements. “The upshot really is just in relation to the some of the questions and chatter is that we've been holding steady to our commitment. We haven't been adding staff ... willy nilly,” Donovan said.
Council member Alexander called for adoption of Resolution 2025-27, the city’s budget resolution; the council voted to adopt the resolution by roll call. The motion for adoption was made by Council member Alexander and seconded on the floor. During the roll call, the council recorded affirmative votes from Council member Franklin, Council member Smith, Council member Alexander, Council member Hickson Shepherd, Council member Hasselmeier, Council member Bliss and Mayor Arnold.
Staff also explained how the budget documents present frozen and authorized positions: the published narratives note that the charts include frozen positions and that authorized positions may not be filled on July 1. “This chart includes all the frozen positions. These are what are authorized. It does not mean that they're all filled,” Donovan said, adding that daily staffing levels change.
Council members asked for more historical context and departmental subtotals in future reports to help track trends by department and to make FTE-cost allocations clearer for funds such as parks and recreation. One council member requested a fall follow-up to examine whether the recreation fund could shoulder more personnel costs after the pool/opening season has settled.
The council thanked departmental directors and staff for multiple hours of budget work and public responses during the budget process. With no further discussion, the council approved the budget resolution by unanimous roll-call vote.
