Columbia leaders to hear presentation on city budget

Columbia city leaders will participate in a presentation and discussion about the budget at their annual spring retreat Thursday. According to Deputy City Manager Tony St. Romaine, the discussion will involve a high-level overview of Columbia’s approximately $450 million dollar budget.

Newly-elected mayor Brian Treece says his top priority for the budget is public safety. Treece has cited the Justice Department in saying the city is understaffed by as many as 50 public safety officers.

Having more money for public safety requires money being taken from other sources. Treece looked at how other universities paid their cities in order to use their public safety officers, “Right now Auburn University compensates the city of Auburn approximately 2.4 million dollars every year for police and fire protection on campus.”

Treece also says that Mizzou requires and uses more officers than what they pay for. They currently have an agreement with Fire Station 3 but its not a proportionate one compared to the amount of calls the fire department responds to on campus.

Other public safety matters that were discussed was who should respond when a University of Missouri student calls 9-1-1 on off campus housing.