Branson’s First Quarter Financial Report shows year-to-year growth

City Finance Director Allison Ramsey presented the 2026 First Quarter Municipal Financial Performance Report at Branson’s Board of Aldermen meeting on May 12, 2026. The following is a year-to-year breakdown by City Fund:

General Fund: The city collected $9,359,257 in revenue, representing 34% of the budgeted amount and a 5% increase over the first quarter of 2025. The fund recorded year-to-date expenditures of $6,450,97, which account for 23% of budgeted expenditures.

Tourism Fund: The city collected $3,135,638 in revenue, representing 16% of the annual budget and a 6.4% increase over the same period in 2025. Year-to-date expenditures totaled $1,007,928, keeping spending at just 4% of the budget.

Transportation Fund: Revenues increased by 9.8% compared to 2025, driven by early grant and ARPA funding. The city collected $ 2,460,000 (26% of the budget) and expended $1,838,360 (20% of the budget).

Public Safety Fund (Police and Fire): The city collected $4,515,959 in revenue, amounting to 27% of budgeted revenues. Expenditures totaled $3,376,366, which is 19% of the budgeted amount.

Water and Sewer Fund: The city collected revenues totaling $2,905,402 (25% of the budget) and expended $2,565,530 (13% of the budget).

Parks and Recreation Fund: The city collected $816,860 in revenue, bringing it to 19% of the budget and 7% above the previous year. The fund recorded expenditures totaling $844,074, representing 19% of budgeted expenditures.

Although the Tourism Fund collected $3,135,638 in total revenue, marking a 6.4% increase over the same period in 2025, the performance across specific tourism business sections varied significantly. The breakdown of tourism revenue by business section is as follows:

Theaters (Shows): Revenue rose modestly by 5% compared to the first quarter of 2025.

Amusements (Attractions): This was the only tourism sector to see a significant decline, with tax revenue decreasing by 13%. The report did not give a reason for the decline.

Restaurants and Concessions: This sector saw a massive 59% increase compared to the first quarter of last year. The huge spike in January, was attributed to the city receiving a large volume of late tax returns all at once rather than an actual boom in dining.

Campgrounds: Revenue in this category jumped by 45% over early 2025 figures. This rebound represents a stabilization of the sector, which had seen historically low numbers throughout the previous year.

Hotels and Motels: This sector experienced solid growth with an 11% increase.

Short-Term Rentals: This category remained flat, with a negligible 0.1% year-to-date increase.

It was noted that the city’s new financial software will allow for even more precise tracking in the future by distinguishing between the month a business collected a tax and the date the business actually pays the proceeds to the city.

Additionally, the city is working to correlate these specific tax collections with vehicle traffic counts across various districts and better understand tourism trends.