Council approves city’s $395M budget  

Though it wasn’t unanimous, Springfield City Council passed the city’s fiscal 2022 budget of nearly $394.6 million at last night’s meeting.  

The budget represents a 7% increase from fiscal 2021, according to city officials.  

Projected tax revenue is $191 million, up 9.6% from last year’s total of $174 million, and the general fund revenue is forecast at $89.1 million. The special revenue fund is projected at $129 million, and revenue from projected enterprise funds is $96 million, according to city documents. 

Finance Director David Holtmann previously told council at a June 1 public hearing that budget priorities included employee recruitment and retention, public safety and fiscal responsibility. The approved budget funds 1,960 full-time or full-time equivalent positions – a 45-employee increase from fiscal 2021’s budget, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting.  

The favorable vote comes as the city expects to finish the current fiscal year around 6% above budget due to a lesser financial impact than expected from the coronavirus pandemic. Sales and use tax collections are anticipated to finish nearly $3.4 million above budget at $47.7 million. 

The budget passed by a 6-2 vote with Councilperson Mike Schilling absent. It will be in effect July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022. 

Councilmembers Craig Hosmer and Angela Romine both voted in opposition of the budget, as each questioned usage of taxpayer money for the city’s membership with the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.  

Hosmer inquired how much the city spends annually for city employees to attend chamber meetings. Holtmann said it was $34,400 in 2018, $36,340 in 2019 and $13,460 last year, which dipped amid the pandemic.  

“I don’t plan on voting for the budget as it is right now,” Hosmer said, noting he intends to propose a budget amendment at a future meeting. “I am going to propose elimination of funding for the chamber, but we can do that through a separate ordinance.”