Columbia Council work session to focus on 2019 financial plan

UPDATE: In today’s meeting, city leaders spoke about the decreasing revenue stream.

They said other cities seem to be facing the same issue, but they are not in the negative percentage like Columbia.

Mayor Brian Treece said he is optimistic in making the budget work.

“One of my priorities is, of course, to ensure budget confidence in the budget process, but also to deliver enough resources to make sure we have adequate services that the taxpayer and voters expect,” Treece said.

Several issues were discussed – including the need for two new fire stations, a proposed new Water and Light plan with the possibility of a 1 percent water increase, and the need to maintain workers without salary increases.

Treece said it is important to provide relief for some city works as they go through the budget, and he is confident they can make it work.

“If we don’t do it, it’s either, pay me now or pay me later. If we don’t stay on top of staff salary investments, we will spend more on contractor relief, either private companies, responding to emergencies and trash services. Or, additional overtime costs and more expensive temp workers,” Treece said.

City Manager Mike Matthes spoke about the need to implement priority based budgeting.

Some council members were on board with the budget system, but it could cut services and programs in the long run.

ORIGINAL: Columbia leaders have been in a meeting since 9 a.m. to discuss the 2019 financial plan.

City Manager Mike Matthes said the city is “at a tipping point” between its need for services and its ability to pay for them.

City officials said a “continued loss of sales taxes is creating a severe revenue problem.”

In 2019, the city is projecting a negative 2 percent drop in revenue.

Some council members said that if something is not done soon, they will need to cut programs.