The Finance Department is responsible for the administration, direction, and coordination of all financial services of the city involving financial planning, budgeting, purchasing, accounts payable, accounting, financial reporting/annual audit, and utility billing. The department is responsible for processing cash receipts and disbursements and maintenance of an internal control structure that adequately safeguards the assets of the city.
Below you will find information about the city budget, city tax rates, monthly expenditures, and city audit.
Bids And Purchases
The Finance Department’s Purchasing Team provides centralized procurement of goods and services for all purchases that exceed an established fiscal threshold. Purchasing is responsible for obtaining commodities and services at the most economical prices while ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and policies. This team manages the city’s inventory including supplies and infrastructure materials for the electric, water, and sewer utilities. They are also responsible for the disposal of surplus property.
Below are current forms and instructions for active bids.
Please call Purchasing Agent Kristopher Bates at 417-256-7176 ext. 2241 or email him at purchasing@westplains.gov for more information.
State |
|
|
General | 3.0% |
|
Education | 1.0% |
|
Conservation | 0.125% |
|
Parks/Soils | 0.1% |
|
State Total |
| 4.225% |
County |
|
|
General | 1.0% |
|
Law Enforcement (Sheriff) | 0.5% |
|
911 | 0.187% |
|
County Total |
| 1.687% |
City |
|
|
General | 1.0% |
|
Capital Improvements | 0.5% |
|
Transportation | 0.5% |
|
City Total |
| 2.0% |
Special Districts |
|
|
Ambulance |
| 0.5% |
Total Sales Tax |
| 8.412% |
The Finance Director is responsible for preparing the annual budget for all city operations which is then submitted to the Mayor and Council by the City Administrator. The budget process begins at the department level in the spring and ends with the adoption of the budget on or before December 31. The property tax rates must be approved prior to September 1. The City Administrator’s proposed budget is generally reviewed by council at a work session in the fall and is then submitted to a public hearing prior to final adoption.
The budget process also includes a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) which is a long-range planning document detailing the capital requests and funding sources for those requests for the next five years. The CIP must be adopted annually before December 31 of each year.
Proposed Budget Documents:
2025 Proposed Budget & Capital Improvement Plan
Current Budget Documents:
2024-2028 Capital Improvement Plan
Previous Budget Documents:
2024-2028 Proposed Capital Improvement Plan
2023-2027 Proposed Capital Improvement Plan
2022-2026 Proposed Capital Improvement Plan
The council retains an independent audit firm to review and give an opinion on the basic financial statements for the city after the close of each fiscal year. Those audits are presented to council within six months of the fiscal year end.