City of Batesville Budget Tracker
The following budget data was obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request submitted to the City of Batesville and fulfilled by City Clerk Jessica Davis on February 17, 2026. This page compares the adopted budgets for fiscal years 2024 and 2025.
Year-Over-Year Summary
| Fiscal Year | Total Revenue | Total Expense | Surplus/(Deficit) |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024 | $41,304,268 | $40,340,110 | $964,158 |
| FY2025 | $44,450,216 | $42,108,296 | $2,341,920 |
| Change | +$3,145,948 (+7.6%) | +$1,768,186 (+4.4%) | +$1,377,762 |
Source: City of Batesville Budget Documents FY2024-FY2025 (FOIA, Feb 17, 2026)
Source: City of Batesville Vendor History Report 2024 (FOIA, Feb 17, 2026).
Department-by-Department Comparison
All figures represent budgeted expenditures for each department. Departments are sorted by FY2025 budgeted amount.
| Department | FY2024 Budget | FY2025 Budget | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utility Capital | $8,029,010 | $9,504,000 | +$1,474,990 (+18%) |
| Wastewater Construction | $4,052,546 | $5,274,346 | +$1,221,800 (+30%) |
| O&M Tax | $4,827,377 | $5,060,644 | +$233,267 (+5%) |
| Water Construction | $3,797,246 | $4,353,447 | +$556,201 (+15%) |
| Parks and Recreation | $2,546,541 | $2,662,747 | +$116,206 (+5%) |
| Wastewater Treatment Plant | $2,426,420 | $2,471,587 | +$45,167 (+2%) |
| Water Treatment Plant | $1,854,194 | $2,339,767 | +$485,573 (+26%) |
| Solid Waste | $1,828,312 | $1,875,905 | +$47,593 (+3%) |
| Public Safety (Police) | $1,652,718 | $1,603,989 | -$48,729 (-3%) |
| General Administration | $4,129,283 | $1,460,631 | -$2,668,652 (-65%) |
| Streets | $1,693,148 | $1,139,499 | -$553,649 (-33%) |
| Cemetery | $887,937 | $984,945 | +$97,008 (+11%) |
| Wastewater Administration | $847,773 | $894,592 | +$46,819 (+6%) |
| Water Administration | $857,353 | $889,813 | +$32,460 (+4%) |
| Fire Department | $713,581 | $867,486 | +$153,905 (+22%) |
| Public Works | – | $540,674 | NEW DEPARTMENT |
| Animal Control | $185,221 | $180,324 | -$4,897 (-3%) |
| Levee | $11,450 | $3,900 | -$7,550 (-66%) |
Source: City of Batesville Budget Documents FY2024-FY2025 (FOIA, Feb 17, 2026)
Notable Budget Changes
Several significant shifts occurred between the FY2024 and FY2025 adopted budgets:
- General Administration: -65% ($2.67M decrease) – Dropped from $4.1M to $1.5M. This represents the largest dollar decrease of any department and may indicate reorganization or transfer of functions to other departments.
- Public Works: NEW DEPARTMENT ($541K) – A new department appeared in the FY2025 budget that did not exist in FY2024. This may account for some of the General Administration decrease.
- Wastewater Construction: +30% ($1.22M increase) – Rose from $4.1M to $5.3M, indicating significant infrastructure investment.
- Water Treatment Plant: +26% ($486K increase) – Increased from $1.9M to $2.3M, suggesting facility upgrades or operational expansion.
- Fire Department: +22% ($154K increase) – Rose from $714K to $867K.
- Water Construction: +15% ($556K increase) – Increased from $3.8M to $4.4M.
- Streets: -33% ($554K decrease) – Dropped from $1.7M to $1.1M.
Budget vs. Actual Spending
It is important to note that budgeted amounts and actual spending can differ significantly. According to vendor payment reports also obtained via FOIA:
- FY2024: Budget authorized $40.3M in expenses, but actual vendor payments totaled $34.3M (15% under budget)
- FY2025: The adopted operating budget authorized $42.1M in expenses. Total vendor payments across all funds were $59.7M. City Attorney Tim Meitzen has clarified that major capital projects (water treatment plant, park/event center) are funded through separate voter-approved bonds, not the general operating budget. The city estimates the actual general budget overage at approximately $1.5 million. The large vendor payments to TOLM Group ($22.77M) and Clark Contractors ($5.86M) are associated with the bond-funded water treatment plant project. Independence Watch is filing FOIA requests for bond authorization documents to provide a complete fund-level breakdown.
Both years verified against official Vendor History Reports: FY2024 ($34.3M, 702 vendors, received Feb 17, 2026) and FY2025 ($59.7M, 700 vendors, received Feb 24, 2026). Source documents available in The Vault.
Download Official Budget Documents
The complete budget documents are available for download:
All data sourced from: City of Batesville Budget Documents FY2024-FY2025 (FOIA, Feb 17, 2026)
Documents obtained through Freedom of Information Act request to Jessica Davis, City Clerk, City of Batesville. Received February 17, 2026.