Govern with Financial Integrity

nearly 6 years of great progress and great outcomes through and since COVID. 

The unrestricted general fund balance listed in the city’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report

  • The Year ending (YE) 6/30/2019 (Fiscal Year June 30 2018 to July 1, 2019) unrestricted fund balance: $6,887,479 with a multi-year downward trend.

  • YE 6/30/2020 the unrestricted general fund balance: $6,087,170

    • Implemented a unanimously approved Strategic Plan with mission, vision, values, 5 strategic priorities, action items, a Board reporting schedule, and an annual review process

    • Implemented written Communication Plan, transparency portal, bi-annual print newsletter, and routine Trustee and other resident face-to-face meetings.

  • YE 6/30/2021 unrestricted general fund balance: $4,793,695 *Having no essential services, the mandatory shutdowns during COVID eliminated ~ 95% of city revenues.

    • Bond refinanced reducing the interest rate and generating savings of over $250,000

    • Proposition A and wage increases passed; succession planning initiated

    • New Ambulance purchased

    • Initiated plan with Plaza Frontenac to increase occupancy and foot traffic; Plaza 50th anniversary event planning initiated

  • YE 6/30/2023 unrestricted general fund balance: $10,733,204

    • Comprehensive compensation review by CBIZ resulting in new wage ranges and a Compensation Policy

    • Fire and Police sustained reductions in overtime and turnover rate from 2019 45% Ave.

    • The Frontenac 2050 Comprehensive Plan, action items, timeline & Board reporting schedule implemented; 

    • A new Fire Engine purchased with summer of 2025 delivery anticipated 

    • Completed a comprehensive IT strategy and multi-year roadmap

  • YE 6/30/2024 unrestricted general fund balance: $11,936,094  

    • Review and update the residential zoning to align with the Frontenac 2050 Comprehensive Plan completed

    • Completed a comprehensive long-range facility plan (5-10 years) with estimates of useful life and cost to replace

    • Plaza Frontenac occupancy increased to 90% and foot traffic increased on Black Friday by over 19%; Neiman Marcus reports a double-digit increase in annual sales.

Grant approvals in the last five years and now pending: 

· Geyer Road - Re-applied for the MO DOT and STP grant for Phase 3 and increased this to 80% from 70% and combined the contraction periods for phases 2 & 3.

· Spoede Road Bridge at Villa - scheduled to be replaced in 2026 now: $1.5 million Surface Transportation (STP) Grant from East West Gateway Council of Governments (EWG) - reapplied for this grant in 2024 due to the costs increasing and increased amount of grant funding to cover increased expenses. ~70-80% of total costs.

· Countryside Stormwater Project - this is the city’s largest infrastructure project ever: $3.9 million with $2.5 in grant funding from ARPA, OMCI, Federal 319, DNR, and Corp of  Engineering 

· West End Park Stormwater Study: MSD matching grant funds to city stormwater funds to complete a study of the flash flooding from Villa through Glen Abbey to West End Park commercial area for the potential to mitigate if not eliminate flash flooding. Outcomes = not able to eliminate but can mitigate with some remedial actions. 

· Misc. Grants from MSD include the Briar Ridge stormwater project completed in 2023 that achieved the city's first East-West Gateway Council of Governments OLGA or Outstanding Local Government Award, the Association of Public Works APWA award, and an ASCE engineering award. They also successfully gained awards of new grant funding, including the city’s first Department of Natural Resources grant.

·Clayton Road improvements: STP grant application submitted earlier this month.