Brentwood Ways and Means Committee forwards 2025 budget to Board after unanimous vote

The Brentwood Ways and Means Committee voted unanimously to forward the proposed 2025 budget to the Board of Aldermen after its Nov. meeting, where members also added a lobbying line item and discussed cash-flow and capital constraints.

Committee Chairwoman Sims opened the meeting and the committee heard an administrative update on cash flow. The city administrator told members the city will liquidate certain investments managed by Brad with Arbitrage Management to meet near-term cash needs because some reimbursements are now expected closer to 2025.

The finance presentation covered September financials. Finance staff said occupational and building-permit revenues exceeded expectations and investment interest had exceeded $300,000 in September and topped $400,000 by the end of October. Staff also noted a miscellaneous municipal-operations expense tied to TIF closeouts and that reimbursements from St. Louis County are pending.

During budget deliberations, staff proposed and the committee approved adding a general-fund lobbying line item (board-docs estimate adjusted to about $41,500) to support legislative monitoring and possible advocacy related to ongoing state-level issues, including the food sales-tax matter.

Chairwoman Sims then entertained a motion to approve the 2025 budget and forward it to the Board of Aldermen; the motion was moved and seconded and passed by roll call with unanimous affirmative votes. The committee did not take final Board action; forwarding is the next procedural step.

The committee expects more detailed capital-planning work in follow-up meetings as staff refines projections for parks and recreation, wetland- and arboretum-related grants, and other multi-year projects.