Bowling Green Witnesses a Rise in the City Budget for Fiscal Year 2025
Bowling Green has announced an increase in the city budget for the fiscal year of 2025, confirming an all-time high general budget at $107.3 million, while the all-funds budget is set approximately to $176 million. The decision behind this budgetary adjustment is the result of a Strategic Plan that relies on eight pillars: strong neighborhoods, efficient city employee development, extensive urban and housing development, impressive downtown décor, expansive transportation, transformative riverfront and greenways, and crucial projects.
A Balanced Approach
“It’s about the people we serve and then it’s about the people serving those people,” notes Jeff Meisel, the
City Manager for Bowling Green. “We’ve got to take care of both those groups because, effectively, we are a service organization.”
The city’s key priorities in the increased budget include continuation of the Riverfront Project, turfing of key sports fields in locales like Lover’s Lane, and significant improvements to downtown areas. Meisel further teases, “You’ll see some great surprises down College Street before too long, some stunning features.”
Allocation to Public Safety
Notably, approximately half of the city’s budget will be devoted to making sure the public safety infrastructure remains robust. “Public safety is a priority,” Meisel expresses. “Our goal is to maintain impressive response times with our fire department; and since we recently built Station 8 in the Trans Park, a lot of the increased funding will be used to keep those stations fully manned.”
Aiding the Workforce
Another highlight of the 2025 budget is the cost-of-living adjustment, set to increase by 3.4 percent for all active, full-time city employees. This accommodates the benefits of retaining existing employees and moreover, appeals to those searching for competitive job prospects. “We decided to go ahead and implement a $20 starting full-time hourly wage for all full-time city workers,” says Meisel. “This impacts the tireless workers out clearing snow off the roads in the middle of the night or cutting up a tree in the storm.”
Further Information
For more specifics on the budget, Bowling Green city residents can visit the City of Bowling Green’s official website. The city continues to prioritize the needs of its constituents, positioning it as a city that is constantly pushing for positive progression and a safe, inclusive, and thriving environment for all to enjoy.
