Finance

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.

Current Budget Documents:

2024 Budget

2024-2028 Capital Improvement Plan

Previous Budget Documents:

2024 Proposed Budget

2024-2028 Proposed Capital Improvement Plan

2023 Proposed Budget

2023-2027 Proposed Capital Improvement Plan

2022 Proposed Budget

2022-2026 Proposed Capital Improvement Plan

FY 2021/22 City and Utility Budgets

FY 2020/21 City Budget

FY 2020/21 Utility Budget

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.

2022B Audit

2022 Audit

 2021 Audit

2020 Audit

2019 Audit