City council approves fiscal year 2025 budget

By Charles Christian

The St. Joseph City Council passed its 2024-25 fiscal year budget on Monday.

Mayor John Josendale credited the work of City Manager Bryan Carter and his staff for working closely with all department heads to ensure strong accountability and greater ease in tracking the budget numbers on a monthly basis in the coming year.

“Managers get to really see the results from month to month,” Josendale said. “Bryan and (Interim Finance Director Dawn Lanning) put a lot of time moving from department to department to give a thorough accounting of actual expenditure needs and assisting them in tracking the process each month.”

This process, Josendale said, not only yields more accurate numbers, but also allows department heads to plan more effectively for the future.

Among the goals mentioned in the strategic budgeting plan was an emphasis on fiscal responsibility by reducing the cost of payroll expenses. This will be done in some departments by combining job descriptions to accomplish the same tasks at lower overall costs.

The budget also prioritizes the maintenance and enhancement of city assets such as key infrastructure items. The city also prioritized making use of any new federal and state funding resources where available. Budget goals also included ongoing investment in the Civic Arena, keeping the 139th Airlift Wing in St. Joseph and fixing storm drains and sewer extensions in town.

For a full breakdown of the budget, visit https://stjosephmo.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/767.