Arnold's city manager says financial shortfall has been cut by more than half, but still remains

Arnold City Manager Mario Bellavia told council this week that the city is slowly but steadily climbing out of a budget hole.

Bellavia said the city was looking at a major financial shortfall after the previous administration erred in creating this year’s budget.

The budget overestimated the city’s 2024 revenue by $250,000, but said that city officials have been able to eat away at that figure.

Speaking of the 2024 revenues spent, Bellavia said, “We are about 67% of the way there, and we should fall short by about $114,000.”

However, he said the shortfall could be further reduced if the collection of money owed for delinquent sewage and water bills maintains its current pace.

“Sewage and garbage clerk Jen Davis has done an outstanding job of collecting delinquents,” he said.

“She is over by, like, $138,000 what they (the previous administration) projected,” Bellavia added.

He said the amount of revenue from delinquent collections budgeted for this year was $1.9 million.

Bellavia credited the increased collections to city officials deciding not to contract out delinquency collection work and instead setting up an in-house system. He said it has been working well.

Additional cost reductions for the city in regard to the police department also appear to be forthcoming.

Bellavia said that’s because of a new scheduling system for the police devised by Mayor Shannon Santucci and police Chief Josh Stanga that will reduce overtime while still maintaining the same level of police protection.

“We are reducing overtime for the first time since I’ve been here,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said he and other city officials are looking for other opportunities for savings.

“Going into next year, I’m hoping to present a balanced budget,” Bellavia said.