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Portageville aldermen review proposed 2026–27 budget, set April vote on firefighter overtime change
Summary
At a Feb. 17 meeting, the Portageville Board of Aldermen reviewed the proposed FY 2026–27 departmental budgets, agreed to advance a firefighter overtime-rate change for a formal vote in April, and approved routine agenda items; solid waste collections were adjusted to reflect a 5% contract increase.
The Portageville Board of Aldermen met Feb. 17 at City Hall to review proposed departmental budgets for the May 1, 2026–April 30, 2027 fiscal year and to handle routine procedural business. Mayor Cook called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m., and the City Clerk reported that a quorum was present.
The board unanimously approved the meeting agenda on a motion by Alderman McCrate, seconded by Alderman Smith. During a department-by-department review, officials proposed and recorded several line-item changes across administration, public safety, utilities and public works.
Key budget changes and proposals
Administration: The board removed a Pem-Dunklin franchise-tax line and consolidated that revenue under Electric Franchise Taxes, added a new $1,000 emergency-management expense line, and removed a GPS-Fleet line because related charges are accounted for with AT&T charges for the police department.
Police: The Housing Authority income line was removed after the Housing Authority terminated the Community Policing Program last year. A Bond Surety line was also removed, with bonds handled through Administration.
Fire: The board reclassified uniform and turnout-gear expenses (turnout gear to be shown under equipment purchases) and discussed firefighter pay. According to the minutes, current pay is $25 per hour for the first two hours (rising to $30 per hour for firefighters certified as Fire Fighter I or II) and $10 per hour for each hour after the first two. The board decided to increase the after-two-hour rate from $10 to $15 per hour and directed that the change be placed on the April board meeting agenda for a formal vote.
Water and sewer: The Water Department removed Meter Deposits (now its own fund) and removed a Lease Payment line following final payment for Auto Read Meters. Per an EPA audit recommendation, the PreTreatment Program will be separated from the Sewer Department and given its own budget. The minutes list proposed PreTreatment budget items as INI $10,000, salary $20,000, and payroll taxes and insurance $4,500. Several sewer line items (tech fee, loan payment, rental) were removed or reallocated.
Public works and other funds: The Street Department removed Interest Receipts and Office Supplies line items. The Park Board will prepare its own budget for approval at the April meeting. Solid Waste Collections were increased to reflect a planned 5% rate increase by Republic Services during the year.
Procedural actions and next steps
Aside from the budget review, the board conducted standard business and adjourned at 8:00 p.m. on a motion by Alderman Smith, seconded by Alderman McCrate. The minutes record that motions carried unanimously but do not list individual vote tallies. Staff and departments were directed to implement the line-item changes and to place the firefighter overtime-rate change and the Park Board budget on the April agenda for formal consideration.
The minutes name Rachel Wrather as City Clerk and list other participants including Sam Tillman; they do not supply vote counts nor define the acronym “INI.” The board did not take final votes on departmental budgets at this meeting; several items were revised administratively or scheduled for future action.
