St. Francois County commissioners preview proposed 2025 budget, set hearing timeline

St. Francois County officials presented a proposed fiscal 2025 budget and outlined steps for public review and a formal hearing.

County staff told commissioners the proposal projects approximately $54,000,000 in revenue and described total expenses in the range discussed during the presentation; staff also said the plan shows an anticipated surplus of about $6,500,000, much of it in restricted funds and therefore not freely available for general use.

The commission was told the proposed budget document has been posted online and that a public hearing will be scheduled later in December to meet the requirement that the budget be published at least 10 days before the hearing. Staff said the commission could hold a special meeting — indicated as possible on Dec. 20 or Dec. 23 in the presentation — and could vote to approve the budget at a subsequent regular meeting after the hearing.

Staff cautioned that the surplus cited in the presentation is held in restricted funds and “is not like money floating around that they’re free to use,” and that the published document on the county website is the proposed budget, not an approved budget.

Commissioners and staff encouraged residents to review the proposed budget online and bring questions to the public hearing. No formal action on the budget was taken at the presentation; commissioners directed staff to finalize the posting and schedule the notice and hearing according to statutory timing.

Ending: The commission expects to publish final assessment numbers in June (affecting the tax base discussion in other agenda items) and to set the public hearing date after the required posting; a formal approval vote will follow the hearing timetable discussed by staff.