Joplin City Council Informal Meeting – December 15, 2025
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Joplin City Council Informal Meeting – December 15, 2025
The Joplin City Council held an informal meeting on December 15, 2025, to discuss financial updates, downtown development initiatives, and proposed changes to the sewer assessment policy. City staff presented updates on tax revenues, year-to-date budget results, downtown activities and strategic planning, and modifications to the sewer assessment program to encourage residential infill.
Financial Information Update
- City Finance Director Leslie Haas reported that December sales tax (representing October sales) was down 9.8% compared to the previous year, putting the city below budget by approximately $120,000 for 2025.
- Use tax was up 22.4% for the month and up 18.6% year-to-date. Marijuana tax was in line with an average month and above budget.
- Preliminary October results for the general fund showed operating revenue above budget by about $525,000 and operating expenditures below budget by about $635,000, resulting in a net gain of $116,000. However, encumbrances of $3.3 million were rolled over, largely due to timing of capital purchases such as fire trucks.
- Council member Carlin questioned how the city would adjust the current year’s budget given that several expenditure categories were already over budget and that the final numbers for the previous year would not be known until February.
Downtown Joplin Home Alliance Update
- Lori Hahn, Executive Director of the Downtown Joplin Home Alliance, reported on fall activities including the first Restaurant Week (10 days, 18 businesses), wine shares at Alchemist Haven and Marketplace Boutique, and the 18th season of Third Thursday.
- A holiday decorating event at Spiva Park attracted 300–400 attendees and led to positive feedback; the event may be replicated next year.
- A potential historic district survey is underway for the area between Joplin Avenue and Byers from 1st to 7th streets, covering 49 buildings not currently in any historic district. The goal is to enable historic tax credits for redevelopment.
- Several new businesses opened, including Starry Eyed Girl (5th & Virginia), Michelle’s Rustic Treasures pop-ups, 122 Lounge, 122 Barber Shop, a spa, and Marketplace Boutique.
- The board completed strategic planning with six focus areas: zero empty spaces, property preservation and redevelopment, master plan development (for 2026), district relations, downtown positioning and branding, and Empire Market support for entrepreneurs transitioning from pop-up to brick-and-mortar.
- Upcoming 2026 events: Chili Cook Off (January 17), volunteer expo (January), Paris Week (February), Third Thursday season (March 19), LoSt tour (May 2), and Evening of Excellence with featured speaker Caitlin Cotton from Place Economics (February 19).
- Council member Carlin asked about property owner permission for historic district designation. Hahn explained that the survey is only informational; owner consent is not required at that stage. National historic district designation typically has no restrictions, while local districts may impose rules but also provide benefits.
Sewer Assessment Policy Update
- Public Works staff member Dan Johnson presented proposed clarifications to the sewer assessment policy. The program allows existing residential neighborhoods within city limits to improve inadequate sewer infrastructure, encouraging infill and revitalization.
- Major proposed changes: the city’s contribution would increase from 25% to 75% of project costs, with property owners responsible for the remaining 25% not to exceed $150,000 total. Assessment payments would be due over five years, and the remaining balance must be paid in full upon sale of the property.
- Projects are limited to city sewer infrastructure only; no private utilities. Eligible projects require between 2 and 5 legally conforming lots within city limits.
- Council member Bard asked whether the $150,000 cap could be raised to $250,000, citing hypothetical project costs of $103,000 for construction alone in one example. Assistant Director Edwards responded that $150,000 is likely the maximum the city can cover from sewer funds.
- Council member Carlin asked about funding sources; Johnson explained that funds would come from the sewer fund budget, which has historically been used for sewer extensions.
Key Outcomes
- No formal votes were taken during the informal session.
- Proposed sewer assessment policy changes were presented for discussion; official action is expected at a future regular meeting.
- The Downtown Joplin Home Alliance will continue its strategic planning and pursue the historic district survey.
- City staff will continue to monitor tax revenues and budget adjustments.
- The regular session of the council was scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. following the informal meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome to the informal meeting of the Joplin City Council for Monday, December the 15th, 2025. We have three items on the agenda. We will begin with item number one, financial information update. Good evening, Mrs. Haas. Good evening, Mayor Council. I'm going to present uh sales tax, use tax, marijuana, and then the general fund financials. Um December, which represents sales from October. Unfortunately, uh not as good as last year. In fact, uh we were down uh 9.8 percent. Uh so we are below budget. Um and actually uh while this is on a cash basis, um we have to actually record the first two months in 2025, and so that's going to put us below budget for 2025 by about 120,000, unfortunately. And then uh use tax uh, however, was pretty good compared to uh the same month for last year. We're up 22.4 percent. Uh so for the year we're up, we're up 18.6 percent. Marijuana, um it's about a normal month for marijuana, although the percentage is up a lot. Uh if you look at the same month for last year, this was a timing issue last year between December and January. Uh so it's pretty well in line with an average month, uh, but we're still above budget. Um questions on any of the taxes. If not, I'll move to the general fund financials. So I'm gonna present the preliminary October results. Uh we won't finish the fiscal year. Uh we should finish sometime in January. So uh this is um we close the 12th period and then we continue uh to make entries as we do the accruals, uh for instance for sales tax, uh franchise tax as uh invoices still come in. Uh so uh this is preliminary, it is by no means done. Uh but uh preliminarily for operating revenue, uh we finished above budget uh by about $525,000. Um we came in under budget on operating expenditures by about $635,000. Uh one-time revenue, we're above uh budget by about $930,000. And I should say this is the amended budget. Uh so this is after the year-end budget that I brought you. And then one-time expenditures, we're below budget, uh, which is mostly capital outlay. Below budget, so that like the fire trucks are still on order. Um so our total uh net gain at this point is $116,000. But you can see we still have we rolled over $3.3 million in encumbrances. So a lot of that's just timing. And then if we move to the November financials, uh so as a reminder, a lot of things that happen in November are actually for October, and they get recorded in October. Uh so a lot of the revenue uh belongs in October, a lot of the expenditures, uh the first payroll belongs in October, so November is always uh lagging. Uh so for revenue, uh we're we're below budget by about 53,000, which is not unusual. We're also below expenditures by about 790,000. We're way below um on one-time revenue, and the same with one-time expenditures. So uh through November, we have a net gain of almost 400,000, but that same amount in uh rolled encumbrances of 3.3 million. Uh so with that, I'd be happy to answer any questions on the financials. Council. Mrs. Carlin. So if I understand this correctly, then we have no, let's just say unspent money that went into reserves from last from year 24-25. Preliminarily, um, you know, we so it's hard to say where we're actually going to end up yet because I just now today booked the entry for the accrued sales tax and use tax marijuana. I have not booked the accrual for franchise. We're still booking grants, but invoices are still coming in. Uh so I just won't I won't know that until about you know February.
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