Dardenne Prairie adopts 2026 budget after amendments; park-removal motion fails

The Dardenne Prairie board voted to adopt the amended fiscal year 2026 budget after approving three targeted amendments and conducting a roll-call vote that produced four yays and two nays. The adopted ordinance was assigned number 2392.

Key amendments approved before the final vote were: replacing a specific reference to "iPads" with vendor-agnostic language for "available technology" to be presented by the IT manager and later selected by board vote; removing a recurring carpet-cleaning line item after approving a $102,500 carpet replacement for City Hall; and amending the America 250 (July 4) line item to eliminate explicit drone-show language while preserving funds for celebrations such as fireworks and a concert.

Alderman Johnson moved to remove a proposed $410,000 park development in Bear Haven (described as leased land with limited vehicle access) from the budget, citing access and value concerns; the motion produced a tie vote and did not pass. On the final roll call for the amended budget, the clerk recorded 4 yays and 2 nays and the chair declared the ordinance passed.

City staff and council members noted constraints on large contracts: any expenditure above $10,000 requires separate board approval, so final decisions on vendors and specific contracts will return to the board. Staff also said the fireworks vendor has been approached and that the city may obtain donated fireworks while event labor and production remain budget items. The board directed staff and the IT manager to return with specific technology options and to track follow-up approvals for any purchases over the $10,000 threshold.