The Independence City Commission votes to exceed the revenue neutral rate and approves the budget for 2025.
At Thursday's city commission meeting, a public hearing was held on the the revenue neutral rate and on the 2025 budget. No citizens spoke on either issue. Commissioners did vote to exceed the revenue neutral rate for the coming year. Mayor Tim Emert told those in attendance that the city has been working hard for the past six months to create a budget that would be least burdensome on the city taxpayers. One of the largest costs for the city is employee salaries, but Emert stated that the city must remain competitive in that area in order to attract quality candidates. Finance Director Lacey Lies told the commission that several positions with the city had been eliminated as a cost-saving measure in the past year.
In other business, the city also voted to pursue abatement against several houses in the city deemed unhealthy and unsafe. It was also reported that the Arco building has been placed on National Registry of Historic Places.
The next Independence City Commission meeting will be held on September 26th at 5:30pm in the Commission Room in City Hall on North 6th Street. The public is invited to attend.
