Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the City Budget And Public Concerns topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Former mayor urges University City to put police-station bond before voters as fund balances decline
Summary
Former mayor Shelly Welsh urged council to present voters with a bond to pay for the police-station project, citing a $5.5 million general-fund transfer in the 2027 budget, long-term certificates of participation obligations, and a projected fund-balance decline from about $22 million (06/30/2024 audited) to roughly $7 million in the 2027 budget.
At the July 13 meeting of the University City City Council, former mayor Shelly Welsh urged the council to ask voters to approve a bond to pay for a police-station project and to be transparent with residents about budget choices.
Welsh, who said she lives at 7141 Delmar Boulevard, told council that the 2027 approved budget authorizes a transfer of $5,500,000 from the general fund to balance the budget and stated that $1,800,000 from the general fund is earmarked to pay certificates of participation related to the police-station project. Welsh said those certificates are scheduled to be paid off in 2052 and argued the city needs to consider asking voters to approve a bond or a tax increase to address long-term fiscal pressure. She asked the city manager (Miss Sharp) to provide an honest assessment of the fiscal situation.
Welsh cited audited and projected fund balances included in budget documents: an audited fund balance of almost $22,000,000 as of June 30, 2024; an estimated fund balance just under $15,000,000 for July 1, 2024; a projected ending fund balance of about $11,000,000 for 2026; and a projected fund balance of about $7,000,000 in the 2027 budget. She said these figures indicate a decline of more than $14,000,000 over three years and questioned the legality of transfers from park and stormwater tax funds to cover general-fund items.
Welsh asked that her comments be made part of the record. Council did not debate the substance of her request on the council floor that evening; no formal motion to place a bond on the ballot was made during the meeting.
Other public commenters raised infrastructure and safety concerns: Tom Sullivan reported multiple streetlights out and hazardous alleys and urged city inspectors to respond; Susan Koerner Collier pressed city staff for steps to implement pedestrian-safety upgrades approved by the traffic commission for crosswalks near Jackson Park Elementary; John Williams raised ADA-signage and access concerns and said he would follow up with staff.
The council indicated staff would follow up with the commenters.
