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Gerald board adopts 2025 budget, places 1% public safety tax on April ballot and approves wage increases
Summary
At its Dec. 12 meeting the Gerald Board of Aldermen adopted the 2025 budget and a 2023 amendment, voted to put a 1% public safety tax on the April ballot, approved insurance updates, enacted three ordinances including new wage ranges, and authorized salary increases after an executive session.
The Gerald Board of Aldermen adopted a citywide budget for 2025 and approved related financial measures during its Dec. 12 meeting at Gerald City Hall.
Alderman Cary Parker moved to approve the 2025 budget; Ward I Alderman Rudy Via seconded the motion, and the aldermen present voted unanimously “aye.” The board also approved a 2023 budget amendment by motion of Alderman Parker, seconded by Ward II Alderman Corey Novotney, and later enacted the adopting ordinance (Bill No. 2024-08/Ordinance 950).
Why it matters: The budget vote sets spending and revenue expectations for the city government in 2025 and accompanies other fiscal actions the board approved, including updated employee wage ranges.
The meeting record shows the board adopted three ordinances after two readings each. Alderman Cary Parker moved to accept Bill No. 2024-07 (Ordinance 949 establishing the 2025 budget) with Alderman Kyle Guerrant seconding; the roll call recorded Aldermen Guerrant, Novotney, Parker and Via voting “aye.” Alderman Corey Novotney later moved to adopt Bill No. 2024-08 (Ordinance 950 amending the 2023 budget), seconded by Alderman Rudy Via, with the same roll-call outcome. The board also adopted Bill No. 2024-09 (Ordinance 951) amending wage and salary ranges after a motion by Novotney and a second from Via.
The board approved updates to the city’s insurance arrangements, including a motion to accept MOPERM updates moved by Alderman Via and seconded by Alderman Guerrant. The minutes state that Blue Cross Blue Shield reached an agreement with Mercy and, as a result, the city will retain BCBS for 2025; that statement is recorded in the minutes but is not attributed to a named speaker in the transcript.
On a separate motion, Alderman Via moved and Alderman Novotney seconded placing a 1% public safety tax on the April ballot; the aldermen present voted unanimously to put the measure before voters.
Personnel action: The board entered closed session pursuant to RSMo 610.021(3) for discussion of personnel matters. After returning to open session, Alderman Parker moved to increase the salaries that had been approved and directed department heads to work within guidelines with City Administrator Nick Grube to provide raises to department employees; Alderman Via seconded the motion, which passed with all aldermen voting “aye.” The minutes do not specify dollar amounts or which positions were affected.
What’s next: The board set its next regular meeting for Jan. 9, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at Gerald City Hall.
All motions, seconds and vote tallies are taken from the meeting minutes; where the minutes record a reported fact (for example, the insurance agreement), the article notes that the transcript does not assign that statement to a specific speaker.
