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Flat Rock council approves 14 budget amendments, projects $200,000 general-fund surplus
Summary
City Treasurer Brian Marciniak presented 14 budget amendments covering grants, election equipment, police and fire costs, and retirement payments; the council approved the amendments and discussed maintaining a 27% fund balance and a supplemental payment to the retirement system.
The Flat Rock City Council approved 14 budget amendments during the meeting after City Treasurer Brian Marciniak outlined adjustments needed to reflect new grants, contract changes and operating costs.
Marciniak told the council the general fund still projects roughly $200,000 in revenues above expenditures for the fiscal year and that the city’s fund balance stands at about 27 percent of expenditures — above the state’s two-month best-practice threshold and in the range bond-rating agencies favor for smaller municipalities.
The amendments Marciniak described included moving certain road-related costs from the local millage fund into the major road fund, adding budget authority for election equipment and previously awarded fire grants, paying agreed contract adjustments for police, and increasing overtime and training budgets for fire department requirements. Marciniak also said the city would pursue a supplemental payment to its retirement system (MERS) as it has in recent years.
On retiree-health funding, Marciniak said the city is required under a state agreement to budget $170,000 for OPEB (other post-employment benefits). He said the city has previously contributed $250,000 in prior years and that, with the current adjustments, the city can add an additional $80,000 to OPEB funding this year. Marciniak said he will present related special-fund amendments (water, major road and others) at a future council meeting.
Council members praised the treasurer’s work and supported the proposal to formalize a fund-balance policy that will set thresholds and automatic steps if the city falls below or rises above target levels. The council approved the 14 amendments by voice vote.
The council did not record a roll-call tally in the meeting minutes excerpt; the meeting carried the motion after the chair asked, “All in favor, say aye,” and no dissenting voices were recorded.
Marciniak said he will return with additional special-fund adjustments at the next meeting and will bring a multi-part fund balance policy for council approval.
