Proposed 2024 City of Columbia budget around $533 million; two more budget hearings set for August and September

Watch a live stream of the City Council meeting in the web player above.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia City Council held the first of its three budget hearing for Fiscal Year 2024 at its meeting Monday night.

In July, Columbia City Manager De'Carlon Seewood delivered the annual budget address.

According to the proposed budget, the city expects to spend around $533 million. The city is planning to increase spending on social services.

The spending includes more than $500,000 for a warming shelter and year-round services provided by Room at the Inn and more than $225,000 for Turning Point to provide drop-in services for the homeless.

To further help with housing, Columbia plans will launch a new department to focus solely on addressing housing along with $10 million going towards raises and benefits for employees. 

Columbia says the new hires will include fire crews to staff station number 10 and three water technicians to help respond to issues around the city.

The city says they plan to hold three public hearings regarding the budget which include Monday's hearing but also August 21 and September 5 to allow several opportunities for public input on the items covered by the budget process.

During the meeting, the council also reviewed the Downtown Community Improvement District's budget.

The budget includes $30,000 for the Downtown Columbia Security Camera Grant. The program was in place this and 14 businesses received money for cameras. The program received so many applications that 2023's application process closed before its intended end date.

"Any of our businesses that wanted to put cameras that were outwards facing or on the outside of the building this is a grant to help them do that, help our downtown be safer," Nickie Davis, of The District, said.

Residents can also comment on the city budget online through Sept. 5.