Last week, the Fayette Board of Aldermen passed the city’s budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year, which began July 1. The new budget includes increased funding for city employees but once again does not include funds for street overlays.

This year’s budget expenses will exceed anticipated revenues by $355,723. By law, the city cannot spend more than it takes in, but leftover funds from the previous year are allowed to figure into the new budgets. Total expenditures tally $7,451,158, while revenues total $7,095,435. While the city’s electric, water, and sewer funds are expected to bring in higher incomes than proposed expenses, general fund spending will surpass expected revenues by more than $1.25 million. 

Salary increases for city employees and the Fayette Police Department are included in the new budget. A proposed rate increase of one dollar per hour for salaried city employees, volunteer firemen, and elected officials. This does not include seasonal employees.

While the budget for the street department has increased, no funds have been set aside for street improvements. However, the budget summary from Mayor Jeremy Dawson and the city’s Board of Aldermen states that the city will assist in the pavement overlay of Church Street planned for sometime in 2024 by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT).  

The summary also states the city council expects to use money in the department’s sinking fund to complete bridge replacements on Spring and North Mulberry streets. The bridge on Spring Street is already under construction and is to be paid for by ARPA funds. The city has applied for grant funding through MoDOT for the bridge on Mulberry Street. 

The condition of Fayette’s roads and streets has been a major point of contention between citizens and the city. Streets have been declining for years, and recent sewer and gas pipe replacement projects have only exacerbated their conditions.

During the most recent meeting of the Board of Aldermen on Tuesday, June 20, at which the council gave unanimous approval of the new budget, members heard from teenager Jacquez Jones about the poor roads and sidewalks in town. 

Jones said his elderly grandparents need to use the sidewalks, but their disrepair makes it difficult. “There are huge holes in the streets. The sidewalks are overgrown. A lot of times, you have to walk on the sides of streets, which is a hazard to people in the community. I think it’s a priority that the city council address the need for repairs in the City of Fayette on the roads.”

Jones was born in Fayette and spent the beginning of his childhood here. He often returns during the summer to visit family.

“It’s time to fix the roads now rather than later,” he said.

The 2024-25 budget includes an increase to the parks department for new playground equipment and dam repair at Rickett’s Lake. Last year’s budget included the purchase of new playground equipment for D.C. Rogers Lake.

During the visitors’ portion of last week’s city BOA meeting, Monique Chapman asked the city council on Tuesday why more money wasn’t being spent at Paige-Liberty Park. She contends that less than half of the $14,000 that was promised for the park two years ago during a parks department meeting was actually spent. 

“We didn’t get what we were promised. We’re trying to figure out where is the rest of it,” she said. 

Chapman inquired as to whether a hexagon swing set would be put back in the park. Fayette’s director of public works, Danny Dougherty, said the swing set is in too bad of shape to be placed back in service.

“We’ve done a lot of work out there the last couple years, and we have five other parks,” Dougherty said.

The city decreased its economic development budget for next year because of a decrease in legal services but will maintain its commitments of $10,000 each to Fayette Main Street, Inc. and the Moberly Area Economic Development Corporation. 

The city’s electric budget will increase, as rates are higher than a year ago. However, expenditures are expected to rise “as the city continues to improve the electrical grid.”

The new budget also accounts for hikes in automobile, liability, and property insurance, as well as workers’ compensation insurance.