Branson approves $61M budget for fiscal 2008

The city’s fiscal year 2008 begins Oct. 1.

The budget is a record $61 million, compared to a $48.5 million budget in 2007. Officials estimate that tourism tax revenue could be up $472,000 from last year, sales tax revenue could be up about $700,000 and transportation sales tax revenue could be up $500,000, according to a city news release.

“Estimates in several areas are exceedingly high,” Interim City Administrator Frank Schoneboom said in the release. “The revenues in the budget are conservative estimates at this time and are not overly aggressive.”

The budget includes funding for four new city employees – two in the police department, one in the city clerk’s office and one in the health department – and salary adjustments for police officers and 30 other city positions. It also covers a 7 percent increase in costs for employee health insurance.

About $4 million is set aside for operating the new Branson Convention Center – a cost officials expect will be offset by the facility’s revenues, according to the release. More than 240 convention nights have been booked at the center for the next 18 months.

Capital improvement projects in the budget include a new ladder truck for the fire department, architectural designs for a new southwest fire station, a new police station, an expansion of the Cooper Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant and major road improvements on Long Street and Fall Creek Road.

“The budget growth covers the debt payments and the capital improvements budget with no new indebtedness coming forward for the city,” Schoneboom said in the release.