Council approves midyear appropriations, quarterly transfers to cover departmental costs

The South Bend Common Council on Sept. 22 approved midyear budget adjustments that appropriate additional funds for several departments and authorize quarterly budget transfers to cover operating needs in 2025.

Bill 54-25, an appropriation ordinance adopted on third reading, added funds across a range of city accounts. The ordinance included $850,000 in fund 101 for the Fire Department (covering increased EMS drug costs, building repairs and auto-repair and maintenance), $342,462 from the parks fund, $478,000 for parking-garage repair and maintenance (fund 601), $705,000 from the Waterworks Capital Fund (622), and other smaller appropriations across human-rights federal grants and innovation-and-technology funds. City Controller Kyle Willis presented the key appropriations and said some funds — for example, the parking garage expenses — were not included in last year’s budget because the asset was acquired after that budget passed.

Bill 55-25, the quarterly transfers ordinance, moved funds within department budgets to cover items such as office rent and professional services. Willis said the human-rights division required a $38,500 transfer to cover rent and contract services, and the controller’s office requested a $125,000 transfer to cover professional-services costs through year-end; the transfers were drawn from areas with budgeted but unspent fringe-benefit funds.

No members of the public spoke for or against either measure during the public hearings. Both bills were reported favorably by the council’s personnel and finance committee and were adopted by recorded roll call votes (each recorded 9–0 in favor). Council members had no additional questions at the hearings.

The ordinances go into effect as adopted; departments are expected to follow the controller’s procedures for expenditure and reporting.