Zion council approves $77.1 million budget, keeps grocery tax and OKs equipment and staffing moves

Zion — The Zion City Council on Aug. 5 approved the city’s fiscal 2025–26 appropriation ordinance of $77,103,957 and a package of associated measures including adoption of a municipal grocery retailer’s tax, a Starcom radio purchase for public works, a temporary accounting-services contract and two new administrative offices.

Director of Finance (Director Conway) presented the appropriation ordinance and said the city “needs to pass an appropriation ordinance annually in order to have the legal authority to spend money.” The council approved the ordinance on a motion by Commissioner Fisher, seconded by Commissioner McDowell; a roll call showed unanimous support (5–0).

City Attorney James Vaselli explained the municipal grocery retailer’s occupation tax and municipal grocery service occupation tax, noting the state’s 2023 legislative changes that left municipalities the option to adopt a local grocery tax to preserve local revenue streams. Commissioner Frierson moved to adopt the ordinance, seconded by Commissioner Fisher; the measure passed on a unanimous roll call (5–0).

Public works and emergency-communications equipment: Chief Street requested approval to buy Motorola radios and Starcom programming for public works at a cost of $65,128.86, citing improved interoperability and the advantage of not maintaining citywide radio infrastructure. The council waived competitive bidding as a single-source purchase and approved the expense using E‑911 funds; motion by Commissioner McDowell, second by Commissioner Stackhouse, passed 5–0.

Staffing and contracts: Director Conway asked the council to approve a contract with Express Employment Professionals for accounting staffing to fill a senior accountant vacancy that has been open since April 2024. The council approved the agreement on a motion by Commissioner Fisher, seconded by Commissioner Stackhouse, with a unanimous roll call.

Organizational changes and appointments: The council created an Office of Director of Economic Development and an Office of Deputy Administrator; both measures passed on unanimous roll calls (motions by Commissioner Frierson and Commissioner Fisher respectively, seconds by Commissioner Stackhouse). The council then approved the appointment of Sunilita Bronson (recorded in the meeting as Director Bronson) as director of economic development (motion by Commissioner Frierson, second by Commissioner Stackhouse) and approved the appointment of Police Chief Eric Barton as deputy city administrator (motion and second recorded; roll call 5–0).

All recorded motions that required a roll call were recorded as passing unanimously. Where the transcript records the roll call votes, Commissioners Stackhouse, Frierson, Fisher, McDowell and the Mayor voted “Aye.”