Bolivar schedules two budget hearings after mayor cites insurance-driven shortfall

The Bolivar City Council set two public budget meetings as the mayor outlined an insurance-driven shortfall and rising retirement costs that administrators say are straining next year’s numbers. The mayor asked the council to meet June 22 and June 29 at 6 p.m. to review final numbers before a vote.

The mayor said the city faces a substantial increase in employee insurance costs that initially created roughly a $400,000 shortfall in the draft budget and described a separate 3% rise in retirement contributions. The proposed budget includes a 3% cost‑of‑living increase for employees, which the mayor said totals $172,000 within an approximately $67 million budget. The mayor told the council the administration has pared back the projected insurance hike from about 60% to roughly 40% through vendor changes and negotiations.

“I would like to schedule two budget meetings ... on the 22nd at 6 and then on the 29th at 6,” the mayor said, asking members to review final figures before the council’s first and second readings. The mayor said staff will provide final budget documents to council members early the following week to allow review time.

Council members and department heads were asked to continue searching for additional cuts and efficiencies. The mayor noted the city has been working to recover lost general session court fine revenue and that last year’s change to the health-insurance carrier left the city short when major claims fell into the new plan’s period.

Next steps: the council will hold the two scheduled hearings in June; staff will circulate the final budget ahead of the June 22 meeting and seek a first reading then, with a second reading planned for June 29.