Poplar Bluff City Council adopts 2026 budget, approves union contracts and amends holiday rules

The Poplar Bluff City Council voted unanimously on Dec. 23 to adopt the city
nd municipal utilities budget for fiscal year 2026 and to approve a series of ordinances and labor contracts in the council's final regular meeting before the holidays.

Council members completed readings and adopted Ordinance Bill 86-66, approving the fiscal year 2026 budget covering 01/01/2026 through 12/31/2026. The measure passed on a 6–0 roll-call vote.

Also adopted was Ordinance Bill 86-63, which amends the city's personnel regulations that enumerate official holidays. After a second reading and roll-call vote, the council approved the amendment 6–0.

The council approved two collective bargaining agreements. Bill 86-64 authorizes a one-year agreement with the firefighters' union (local 2543) that the council said includes a 5% wage increase; council members noted negotiations for fire, street and cemetery/motor pool employees will reopen late next year. The agreement passed 6–0. Bill 86-65 authorizes a collective bargaining agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 702 covering Street, Motor Pool and Cemetery department employees and authorizes the mayor to execute the contract; it passed 6–0.

Clerk Phelps told the council that the labor agreements "have both agreed to a 1 year contract with a 5% raise" and that negotiations for several employee groups will resume next year.

All roll-call tallies on the items above were recorded as six "yes" votes and no opposing or recorded abstentions.

The council completed its business without public comment and adjourned after a brief city manager report announcing the Jan. 5 meeting was canceled and the next regular meeting will be Jan. 20.

What passed at a glance:
• Bill 86-66 — Fiscal Year 2026 budget for the City of Poplar Bluff and municipal utilities: Adopted, vote 6–0.
• Bill 86-63 — Amendment to personnel regulations (holidays): Adopted, vote 6–0.
• Bill 86-64 — Collective bargaining agreement with firefighters (local 2543), one-year agreement with 5% raise: Adopted, vote 6–0.
• Bill 86-65 — Collective bargaining agreement with IBEW Local 702 for Street, Motor Pool and Cemetery departments: Adopted, vote 6–0.

The council did not hold a closed session and will next meet on Jan. 20, 2026.