Columbia City manager recommends new way to do budget

City officials say they are looking at lean years ahead in the City of Columbia’s budget.

City Manager Mike Matthes is recommending priority-based budgeting for budget year 2020.

Councilman Mike Trapp told ABC 17 that unless the community can come together to increase revenue, or the state does a fix on internet sales tax, then priority-based budgeting is what is best.

Trapp said that in priority-based budgeting, the budget is not listed by the department. Instead, it’s listed by program and services.

“It’s then vetted by your workforce and your people of the community who are the largest stake-horse in city government, they get a chance to weigh in on what’s their most important priorities that they want to see fully-funded and what may not be as big a priority for as many people,” Trapp said.

Trapp said this is most commonly used in declining budgets.

“In the 1980s, Columbian’s made a decision to move away from property tax, which is often how cities are historically funded, moved towards sales tax,” said Trapp.

But because of the internet shopping’s popularity, sales tax dollars have declined.

“We have a booming economy and falling revenue,” Trapp said.

Trapp said that if the community cannot come together to increase funding or the state does not make a fixed internet sales tax, “then I believe priority-based budgeting is really going to become essential.”

For Trapp, the city cannot wait to make the switch.

“It’s only going to get worse through inaction. Standing-still is only falling behind,” Trapp said.

The city council has to approve the 2019 budget by September 30.