Smithville aldermen adopt FY2025 operating budget after brief debate over rate increases

The Smithville Board of Aldermen approved the city's FY2025 operating budget, adopting bill 3043-24 during its meeting. Alderman Atkins moved to adopt the fiscal-year budget; after a short discussion the roll call produced four ayes and one no, and the motion carried.

During discussion, an alderman expressed concern about a projected pattern of large cost increases and said they did not support a 15% increase tied to water and sewer rates and the proposed sanitation charge; the speaker also objected to an unspecified financial-department fee for online credit-card processing. City Administrator Miss Wagner had earlier described that staff compiled budget materials and presented the ordinance for adoption. The transcript records the objection as: "I do not support the 15% increase of water and sewer rates," attributed in the minutes to an alderman speaking during the budget item (speaker not named in the transcript).

The vote on bill 3043-24 was recorded by roll call: Alderman Atkins — aye; Alderman Wilson — aye; Alderman Russell — no; Alderman Hartman — aye; Alderman Shipley — aye. After the vote, Miss Wagner read the bill aloud as adopted.

The budget item appears on the agenda as bill 3043-24 to "Adopt a fiscal year 02/00/2025 Operating budget"; the transcript does not provide further line-item details in the public record beyond the discussion summarized above. The board gave final approval and administrative actions to implement the budget will proceed according to city procedures.