KCRag Forum

Highlights of increases in the FY 2024-25 Submitted Budget are included below by Council goal and department. A few major priorities in the Submitted Budget include:

Public Safety
• Invests in wage and benefit increases for first responders
• Creates a hiring and retention incentive program for difficult to recruit KCPD positions
• Dedicates over $7.0 million to the Health Department for violence prevention and intervention solutions to address underlying issues of crime

Housing and Healthy Communities
• Provides $12.5 million for affordable housing initiatives, $2.6 million to Right to Counsel for those facing eviction, and $1.5 million for emergency shelter
• Increases funding in the amount of $8.1 million for a cleaner Kansas City to include: new trash carts citywide, enhanced litter clean up, continuation of the expanded bulky item program and recycling carts

Inclusive Growth and Development
• Continues investment of $500,000 for small business support
• Creates a new restaurant incentive program

Infrastructure and Accessibility
• Provides year 4 of 5 of increased funding for street preservation available through GO Bond authority approved by residents
• Adds $4.0 million for Vision Zero improvements to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries

Finance and Governance
• Focuses on an inclusive, diverse community appropriating funds for language accessibility and dedicates $1.0 million in funding for immigration and refugee support services

This budget plans for continued revenue growth, but slower than in recent years. As currently modeled in the Five-Year Planning Model of the General Fund, even with this positive economic outlook, expenditures are outpacing the growth of revenue resulting in a drawdown of fund balance reserves. Thanks to a strong economy and federal support during the pandemic, the City is currently in a strong position with fund balance above the target of 25% as illustrated below. The FY 2024-25 Submitted Budget proposes drawing down $49.9 million of the General Fund reserve. Even with the fund balance drawdown, the City will remain in a position above the fund balance target of 25% for the current fiscal year, absent of any unknown emergency.

DaveKCMO wrote: ↑Sat Feb 10, 2024 11:01 am We're drawing down reserves in a strong economy? Huh?

langosta wrote: ↑Sat Feb 10, 2024 11:14 am

DaveKCMO wrote: ↑Sat Feb 10, 2024 11:01 am We're drawing down reserves in a strong economy? Huh?

Why is the budget growing soo aggressively? Significantly faster than inflation so it appears to represent an expansion of the city government

bspecht wrote: ↑Fri Feb 16, 2024 5:38 pm Downtown Redevelopment District Debt (Power & Light, not including Arena) now up to a $21.5M expense in FY2025, $14.7M from General Fund.