WEST PLAINS, Mo. — The city of West Plains approved a budget amendment for the current fiscal year at the city council meeting on Monday.
City finance director Todd Harman told the council that the city has made a drastic turnaround financially compared to this time last year:
Harman added that the budget includes extra compensation for city employees for their work this week in lieu of a “Christmas bonus” this year, citing restrictions in the Missouri Constitution as the reason for the “elimination” of the bonus:
Harman added that the compensation is for all city employees, regardless of departments.
The issue concerning lack of extra compensation came following the West Plains Public Library board meeting last week where the board rejected the compensation due to that Constitutional restriction, causing an uproar among the library employees. Harman says the city not only consulted with their legal team but the legal team from Lauber Municipal Law firm of Lee’s Summit and the Missouri Municipal League concerning the legality of the city’s position.
The library board later reversed its decision.
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Ed. note: Ed Button is a member of the West Plains Public Library board.
