The city of Warrenton is planning to spend almost $20 million beginning this year to pay for construction of a second Interstate 70 interchange and a new aquatic center.Those construction projects dwarf Warrenton’s $6 million operating budget, which is outlined in a 2017-2018 budget document recently approved by the city’s board of aldermen.Funding for the I-70 interchange construction is budgeted at $13.5 million over the next year. That money will come from a loan from the Missouri Transportation Finance Corporation. Warrenton will eventually pay back the loan with proceeds from two half-cent sales taxes approved by voters in 2016, starting this fiscal year with $990,000.Work on the interchange is expected to begin in late 2017.Other expenses for the city include the construction of a park. On the southern side of the city, crews are already at work clearing and grading the land for Warrenton’s newest city park, which will include construction of an aquatic center with indoor and outdoor pool areas. The estimated cost of construction at the park near Highway 47 and Warrior Avenue is over $6.1 million, with an additional $247,500 for roadway construction at the park, according to the budget document.But there’s one major hurdle before the aquatic center can become a reality. Warrenton voters must give the city permission to borrow the funding for construction. A $7.5 million bond measure will be voted on during a special election on Aug. 8. Two-thirds of voters must approve for the city to borrow the funding.City officials say there will be no tax increase needed to pay for the project, although voting “yes” would give the city permission to raise property taxes as necessary to pay back the bonds. Approving a $7.5 million maximum doesn’t mean the city will actually borrow that much in loans or spend that much on the project, officials said.The deadline to register to vote in the Aug. 8 special election is Wednesday, July 12.The city also could devote funding from Warrenton’s capital sales tax or general revenue funds to help with construction of the aquatic center or other amenities at the 39-acre park.Also included in the budget are debt payments for current and previous water and sewer improvements, totaling over $1 million. Customers who receive water and sewer service from the city of Warrenton will see a 4 percent increase in their billing rate compared to last year.Pay RaisesPayroll for Warrenton city employees will increase by about 3 percent this year, according to the city’s budget document. On top of that, two new employees have been added to the budget — a building technician and an assistant public works director.The city is also facing increases in the cost of employee benefits. Health insurance premiums are projected to increase by 9 percent. Liability and property insurance costs are predicted to go up 5 percent. Premiums for workers’ compensation are also expected to rise by about 3 percent.Because of those and other factors, operating costs for general city services are going up by about $200,000 spread across most departments.Budget ExpensesThe most significant operating budget increases compared to the previous year’s budget are in five departments.The police department budget is increasing from $1.6 million to $1.7 million.The building department is getting a bump from $231,000 to $275,000.Warrenton’s marketing and economic development branch will see an increase from $124,000 to $184,000.Grounds and maintenance services for the city will go from $449,000 to $479,000.The city’s street department budget is increasing from $439,000 to $480,000.One area of significant decline in the budget is how much the city is planning to spend on special events. The total amount allotted for city-sponsored events throughout the year is going down from $166,000 to $95,000.Costs for water and sewer services in the city of Warrenton are going up as well. Those costs are managed out of separate funds from the city’s general services, and the increase will have a direct impact on residents. Those who receive water and sewer service from the city of Warrenton will see a 4-percent increase on their bills compared to last year.City of Warrenton