Sales tax collections for the city of Poplar Bluff exceeded projections by more than $550,000, or almost 10%, in the 2021 fiscal year.
The information was included Monday in audit documents presented to the city council by members of the accounting firm Beussink, Hey, Roe and Stroder.
Auditors found the financial statements for 2021 to present fairly the fund information and the changes in the financial position of the city, a representative of the firm reported to the council.
Audit documents show general fund sales tax collections were just over $6.5 million and had not topped $6 million in the four previous years.
The general fund saw total revenues of approximately $11.7 million in 2021, while expenses were almost $19.5 million
This included $8 million in capital outlay.
The city entered a contract in February 2021 for the construction of a police department, audit documents state. Approximately $4.7 million of the projected $8.1 million project had been spent as of December 2021, auditors reported.
The council on Monday discussed change order 4 for the project, which city manager Matt Winters said would be the final one. It included additional fill dirt for the site.
Winters said the project was closing out final expenses and would know after that how the budget would end.
Other commitments for the city in 2021 included two contracts related to the Poplar Bluff Manufacturing Infrastructure Project, with contracts totaling $1.2 million; demolition of the downtown parking garage, contracted at $193,000; and improvements for Shelby Road Phase II, contracted at $252,000.
Other revenues in 2021 included (figures approximate): $3.4 million from licenses and fees; $1.5 million from property taxes; and $157,000 from fines, forfeitures and violations.
General fund expenses included (figures approximate): general government, $1.9 million, down $320,000 from budgeted; public safety, $7.5 million, down $277,000 from budgeted; and transportation, $1.8 million, up $122,000 from budgeted.
In other business, the council:
• Discussed supplemental agreements related to improvements for the Wolf Creek Trail, including engineering services from Smith & Company, and funding from the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission.
• Discussed an agreement with Smith & Company related to downtown infrastructure improvements.
• Discussed and approved the use of approximately $90,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to purchase six basketball goals for the Black River Coliseum.
• Approved change order 4 for the Industrial Park Infrastructure Project.
• Approved vacating an alleyway laying between lots 7, 8, 11 and 12, of Kinzer and Mengel’s subdivision. Applicant was the United Gospel Rescue Mission.
• Amended city ordinances related to inspection requirements for eating and drinking establishments.
• Approved a work swap agreement with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission.
• Adopted the 2023 Butler County Hazard Mitigation Plan.