Among the many topics discussed at the 8-hour-long City Council retreat Nov. 13 at City Hall were the financial challenges facing not only the country, but the Rolla community in the months and years ahead.
The City’s 2009 complete budget document can be viewed on the City’s Website at www.rollacity.org/admin.budget.shtm. A hard copy of the budget document is also available at City Hall located at 901 North Elm Street.
To help eliminate some of the misconceptions that sometimes arise regarding the 7.6% sales tax in Rolla, I thought it would be helpful to explain how the City’s sales tax is distributed among the various taxing jurisdictions.
Many individuals think all of Rolla’s 7.6 cent sales tax is received by the City of Rolla, but in reality the City receives 2.5 cents. Of the 2.5 cents received 1 cent goes to the City’s General Fund (about $9.5 million for seven of the City’s departments); 1/2 cent is ear-marked for transportation (street improvements); 1/2 cent for capitol Improvements (city infrastructure), and 1/2 cent for parks and recreation. The remaining 5.1 cents is allocated this way: the State of Missouri receives 4.225 cents, and Phelps County receives .875 cents. The average overall sales tax for Missouri cities comparable to Rolla is 7-8%, with several cities with sales tax rates approaching 9%.
The City’s Solid Waste Department, which includes the Recycling Center and Sanitation (waste collection), and the Sewer Department are considered enterprise funds, which are self-sufficient departments that generate revenues through user fees. The Centre, Rolla’s 63,000-square-foot Health and Recreation complex, is funded by membership, user and program fees, and a 1/2 cent sales tax passed by voters in 1998. The tax funding The Centre sunsets in 2013. The Street fund is also maintained in its own fund to track program expenses and the transportation sales tax and capital improvement sales tax, along with the motor fuel (gas) tax.
Another question many residents may have regarding the City budget is how we plan to generate more revenue or sustain the revenues we have to meet the ongoing expenses generated through inflation and increased city services/manpower (i.e., public safety and public works).
There are many options available to address this dilemma, including cutting services, raising taxes and growing the economy. The strategy the City continues to pursue is to grow the economy so that new businesses, industry and economic development generate employment opportunities and thus fuel the economy in a way that benefits everyone. The tactics that the City employs to grow the economy are to encourage businesses, developers and real estate owners to invest and relocate to the Rolla/Phelps County area. The City regularly partners and works collaboratively with organizations, businesses and institutions such as the Rolla Regional Economic Commission (RREC), Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce, Meramec Regional Planning Commission, Rolla Community Development Corporation, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Phelps County, Rolla Public Schools, area health care providers, and many others to achieve this end.
The most recent and visible example of how the City has worked to grow the economy is the new Walgreens store being constructed at the intersection of State Hwy. 63 and Ridgeview Road. This multi-faceted, multi-phase project dramatically improved not only the appearance of this highly visible and key intersection, but also greatly enhanced the safety, slope and access along Ridgeview Road.
The City is also partnering with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) on other transportation projects such as the proposed Ridgeview Road extension to Bridge School Road, a new traffic light and entrance at the corner of Kingshighway and Fairgrounds road that will ease traffic congestion on Kingshigway and provide a entrance to the new Innovation Tech Park being developed by Missouri S&T.
By continually sending out the message that Rolla is a progressive City where the quality of life is high, the education is top-notch and cutting-edge technology, research and high-tech industry is abundant, we also seek to initiate developer-driven projects such as Rolla West. The recently completed master plan for Rolla West by HNTB is the type of tool the City and Rolla Regional Economic Commission can use to attract new businesses and industry that will help diversify and strengthen our City’s retail offerings, provide more jobs, generate more sales tax, and ultimately grow our economy. The development of Rolla West will help enhance and solidify the City’s stature as the regional hub for South Central Missouri.
In closing I would like to wish everyone a happy, safe and memorable Thanksgiving. In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, City Hall will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27 and Friday, Nov. 28. The Centre (1200 North Holloway, Street), will also be closed Thanksgiving Day, and will be open the day after Thanksgiving from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, please call (573) 341-2386.
The Solid Waste Department will be picking up Thursday’s trash on Wednesday. For more information regarding trash pick-up, yard waste, recycling or the City’s new Household Hazardous Waste Facility, please call (573) 364-6693.
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