A quick perusal of the city of Joplin's 2010-11 budget reveals that our governing body likes to cry poverty but keep a sizable amount of money in reserve. That ultra-conservative approach has its positive points. It can pay for the unexpected and make up for a steep downturn in sales tax receipts, funding on which the city relies. (It should be noted that while the July 16, 2010 edition of the "Kiplinger Letter" predicted retail sales growth of 4%, Joplin's upcoming fiscal year budget, according to City Manager Mark Rohr, was figured conservatively on a 1% rise in sales tax revenue.)

In presenting the budget, Rohr wrote:

"I believe this budget represents the most conservative such document I have presented since I've been in Joplin in terms of discretionary appropriations. However, I also believe it allows us to continue our Blueprint-directed march to progress. This goal accomplished, while at the same time we maintain and improve the solidity of our overall finances."

Big ticket budget items as outlined by Rohr include resurfacing of streets and other related projects ($24,102,605), completion of stormwater projects ($4,515,000), the construction of a public safety training center ($5,000,000), and wastewater plant improvements ($26,000,000). Capital expenditures for infrastructure improvements, not outlined by Rohr, also include $1,000,000 for the construction of a trail from Newman to Florida to Range Line.

With expansion of the city on the southwest side the need for the construction and equipping of a new fire station became evident. While $1,487,500 was allocated for construction in the FY 2009-10 budget, $761,000 for equipment has been allocated in FY 2010-11. Incidentals due to expansion include the need to allow $36,000 for the addition of two new early warning sirens. In early stages of annexation expenditure outweighed revenue but was mitigated by federal grant money.

More modest proposals include $2500 for the initiation of a community garden program as approved in the Blueprint II document; $8,150 for replacement of one aged K-9; $25,200 for the replacement of the roof at the Senior Center on Jackson, $50,000 for the construction of a parking lot by Joe Becker Stadium, $200,000 for repairs to the 6th Street parking garage and $250,000 for improvements to the parking lot behind city hall.

Standing in for Empire CEO Bill Gipson, general chair of the Joplin Regional Prosperity Initiative, and first on the firing line was Bryan Vowels, chairman of the board of the Joplin Business Industrial Development Council. His request to continue funding of $300,000 for the JRPI met with no resistance from the council attesting to the popularity of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, one of the Initiative's principal players. The Initiative so far has raised $3.5 million for economic development through a partnership of private and entities. Projects for which the chamber is assuming a major role, Vowels outlined, include continued discussion regarding the establishment of an area medical school, the development of a performing arts center downtown and continuation of the Bright Futures program in hopes of raising high school graduation rates beyond 87%. The sum of $31,500, the same as the current year, was also approved as the city's share of the expenses of the Washington Coalition, the combined efforts of Joplin, the chamber, Jasper County, Missouri Southern State University and Joplin R-8 that generated more than $17 million for the partners, the majority for Joplin initiatives that included downtown redevelopment and transportation and infrastructure items.

Acting as the overall "fly in the ointment," general Councilman Bill Scearce questioned many of the requests for funding that he thought were unreasonable.

The projected amount for contract services for the city proposed by the Joplin Humane Society was questioned by Councilman Bill Scearce, who called the proposed fee changes of $212,400, an estimated increase of $52,400, "monstrous." His objection to both the euthanasia fee ($6.89 from $1.53) and per animal cremation fee (from $823 annually to $15 per animal) was countered by Director Karen Aquino's response that animals were previously sent to the landfill and that procedure now was frowned upon by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. To another councilman's suggestion that a fee be collected from each resident, Aquino replied that "people without animals might object to that method."

A debate ensured regarding the handling of support for not-for-profits. Joplin Finance Director Leslie Jones said the council needs to be discussing the creation of a policy to guide them and that there has to be "constraints." Mayor Mike Woolston agreed and called attention to the fact that funding had been handled "piece meal" through the years and because of that the council lost track of what was done.

Scearce questioned whether organizations should be subsidized by taxpayers who don't agree with what the organization stands for---"just an observation," he said. In conclusion, the council voted for the creation of a workshop regarding not-for-profit support around the first of the year.

Mike Pence, a member of the board of directors of the Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center reads a request to the council for funding of $50,000, the same as in 2010. Supporting him is Robin McAlester.

Audubon Center Board member Mike Pence cited statistics to show the significance of the center and its surrounding trails. He said that last year 48,000 visitors from 32 states and three foreign countries were reported having visited the center and that 9,000 used the trail last month based upon data from a trail counter.

After Executive Director Robin McAlester explained that the center is not able to charge admission based on a coalition agreement with the Missouri Department of Conservation (they gave a $2 million cash gift as part of the agreement), Councilman Michael Seifert suggested the need to find a funding source for the center. Seifert had second thoughts about his suggestion of a "bed tax" but he reiterated "some source of funding."

To end any further negative discussion, McAlester reminded the council that about $627,000 of the center's capital campaign money was used to improve the entrance into Wildcat Park and other significant park improvements. To demonstrate the number of supporters present the room nearly emptied out after the Audubon request was approved.

Lane Clevenger speaks about the role that the Discover Downtown Alliance was playing in creating a more vibrant downtown.

Making a request for $20,000 to hire a part-time director, Lane Clevenger, president of the board of directors of Discover Downtown Alliance cited its role in fostering Third Thursday events, bringing life to empty buildings and increasing the tax base. Acknowledging that its predecessor, Main Street Joplin, had a tainted past, Clevenger argued that his agency had met the goals that they had previously presented to the council.

A long discussion followed. Scearce asked how they could "justify giving money to promote downtown business over other areas." To which Seifert replied, "Would business on 32nd Street begrudge putting new business downtown?" And former Joplin Mayor Gary Shaw, speaking on the phone from his hospital bed, said, "what's good for one part of the city is good for another." Then there was a reminder how TIF money and other grant monies were used in other areas. And Councilman Morris Glaze threw in the need to get away from Third Thursday events. "How do we cut the purse strings?" he asked.

Entrepreneur Mark Williams, who said he owns seven buildings downtown and 25 in surrounding areas, mentioned that the alliance was at the "tipping point." Of course, City Manager Mark Rohr, who initiated the downtown revitalization, in support of the Alliance, said they had "done a wonderful job." And Williams reminded everyone that the group was only trying to fill the void left from the loss of Lenny Brubaker, events committee chairman. And all this falderol over 20 grand when the council agreed to the hiring of an assistant city manager the day before at a salary range of $68,763 to $103,831.

The next issue bantered back and forth had to do with increasing the budget for crossing guards (+$22,000) and for school resource officers ($69,000 reimbursement). Councilman Benjamin Rosenberg in justifying funding crossing guards said that safety was as important in schools as in the community. This put another hit on the safety sales tax that Jones interjected "has not kept pace with expenditures." Nobody paid attention to that probably figuring that creative budgeting would solve the problem. It's also not certain that anyone paid attention to Chief of Police Lane Roberts' enumeration of the reasons for doing away with DARE in exchange for a program dealing with the unique problems Joplin faced.

In spite of acknowledging that the salary levels of Joplin firefighters were 20% below market levels, Rohr suggested rejecting the fire union representative's request for a 10 percent pay raise. "We have to look at the whole picture...all salaries," Rohr said.

A change in the payroll tracking method resulting in extra compensation, an increase in the maximum accrual time for vacation days, a 40% increase in deferred compensation benefits for battalion chiefs, an increase of minimum staffing of truck 5, and an increase of the paramedic stipend were also rejected. However, a request to increase the Honor Guard funding and the Explorer program from $1200 to $1500 was agreed upon.

Photos by Vince Rosati

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