BELLE — Park improvements, infrastructure projects and equipment upgrades are among the investments included in Belle’s newly approved fiscal year 2026-27 budget.

During the June 29 special meeting, the Belle Board of Aldermen reviewed several projects planned for the coming year, including new playground equipment, water line improvements, street maintenance and replacement equipment before unanimously approving the budget.

One of the largest community projects discussed was installation of new playground equipment at the city park. Officials said the city plans to complete improvements at Belle City Park before turning its attention to a smaller playground planned for the Belle-BlandCommunity Center.

“I figure we need to get that one up here done first. That’s where that’s the most traffic,” Mayor James (Pudd) Mitchell said.

Charro Reasor, Office Manager-City Treasurer, said the budget includes $7,645 for installation costs associated with the new playground, including borders, mulch and other materials. She said city officials estimate approximately $4,600 of that amount will be used for an interlocking plastic border around the playground, replacing traditional landscape timbers. Additional work, including an ADA-accessible entrance into the playground area, will also be considered as the project moves forward.

“We did a rough calculation on the border,” Reasor said. “We roughed it at $4,600 for that.”

The board was also questioned about whether improvements at the Belle-Bland Community Center would lead to increased rental rates. Officials said no rate increase is planned at this time.

“I think we’ve got the rates pretty competitive right now. We’re renting it more than we ever have,” Alderman Jeanette Struemph said.

The city’s capital improvement plans also include continued street maintenance, asphalt overlay projects and replacement of aging equipment. The budget sets aside funding for a replacement skid steer, a future service truck and a replacement mower for the parks department. During the discussion, board members also suggested checking Missouri State Surplus for vehicles that could reduce equipment costs.

Water system improvements also remain a priority. Reasor said the water department is entering the new fiscal year in strong financial condition and that the budget includes funding for future water line replacement projects.

“Water has done great this year, as well. It’s definitely under budget... we’ve budgeted $50,000 there for those street repairs that we want to get some new water lines into,” Reasor said.

Officials also provided an update on the city’s curbing work. Struemph was told work has been delayed because of recent weather, with contractors now expected to begin work in the Belle area around the second week of July.

“Barry Krause, on the curbing stuff, he told me that they’re running behind because of the weather…and he said it looked like mid July that they would be in this area the second week of July,” Struemph said.

The projects are among several capital improvements funded through the city’s fiscal year 2026-27 budget approved during the June 29 special meeting.