Years of high inflation and the lingering threat of tariffs prompted the Sedalia City Council to amend their budget earlier this month, raising the price tag for a new fire training center and replacement Central Fire Station by $1.25 million.

The council authorized the amendments during their council meeting July 7, raising the price tag of the new complex off East 5th Street to $7.5 million. City administrator Matthew Wirt tells KMMO News the budget still had the price tag from when the project was first approved in 2019.

Later in the meeting, the council approved a voice motion directing city staff to devise a procedure for tying initial cost estimates in the city budget to the consumer price index or a comparable index for construction costs. Wirt welcomes the move, saying that such a procedure would make it easier to budget potential cost increases.

Also at their meeting earlier this month, the Sedalia City Council renewed their mutual support agreement between the fire department and Whiteman Air Force Base.

The next city council meeting is Monday evening at 6:30 p.m. The council will consider the annexation of Prairie Hollow Development near Clover Dell Park and an ordinance establishing fees for veterinary services at the Sedalia Animal Shelter.