Maplewood City Council on Tuesday approved a $19.7 million budget for the coming year, as City Manager Marty Corcoran predicted a decrease in city sales tax revenues when Menards opens in Richmond Heights and Walmart in Shrewsbury, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Also, a new law prohibits cities from charging fees when a defendant doesn’t appear in court.
Corcoran said he estimates a decrease of $150,000 to $200,000 in revenue each year, though he said it’s hard to predict.
Also in the budget: no new employees and three percent merit raises, $3.6 million for capital improvements — $1.6 million of which is for a left-turn signal at Laclede Station Road and new sidewalks on Manchester from Bredell to Hanley.
Councilman David Cerven asked if the new firehouse will bring additional operation costs. Corcoran said operating the firehouse, including energy costs, will run about $75,000 for the next five to seven years, but will be offset by energy savings changes at city hall.
Maplewood Fire Chief Terry Merrell said recently that a building contractor was being chosen for the new firehouse job.
Read the full article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.