Columbia’s City Council closed the books on next year’s spending plan this week, voting unanimously Monday night to approve a $606 million budget for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1, according to ABC 17 News and KBIA. If you live out here in Rocheport, New Franklin, or anywhere in Howard or Cooper County, you’re not a Columbia taxpayer — but chances are you still work there, shop there, or drive in for a doctor’s appointment, and this budget touches all three.
Here’s where the money’s going. About half of it — $304.8 million — goes to utilities, the single biggest slice, up 6.5% from this year, according to ABC 17 News. Transportation gets $81.3 million, public safety $68.4 million, and the catch-all “supporting activities” category $67.1 million.
The city expects to bring in roughly $581.5 million in revenue against $558.4 million in day-to-day operating spending, with capital projects — new construction and infrastructure work — covered separately by about $48.2 million, per ABC 17 News. KBIA reports the budget leaves the city with about $46 million in cash reserves heading into the new year, roughly $19 million above the 20% cushion the city tries to keep on hand.
The new budget also adds 14.5 full-time positions across city departments and gives eligible employees a 3% across-the-board raise. Not everything survived the amendment process untouched, though — Mayor Barbara Buffaloe told KBIA, “I’m happy to see that we’ve restored some of the proposed cuts with our last amendments,” after council members added money back in during the final round of changes.
The part most likely to land in your wallet, even if you live outside city limits: a 1% public-safety sales tax that Columbia voters approved back in August isn’t in this budget yet — it doesn’t kick in until Jan. 1, 2027 — but when it does, it’ll push the combined sales tax rate in parts of town close to 10%, per ABC 17 News. Worth keeping in mind if you’re a regular for a Target run, MU Health Care visit, or a night out in Columbia.
Council didn’t just vote on dollars Monday. Members also adopted the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code for new construction, tightening rules around things like renewable-energy systems and duct testing — though the city delayed enforcement until April 1 to give builders time to adjust, per KBIA.
The council took public input at hearings back on Aug. 17 and Sept. 8 before Monday’s final vote. The new budget year runs Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, 2027.
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