Commission reviews $166.4 million second revised appropriation; $150 million earmarked for water PFAS project

The Dayton City Commission heard a presentation on Sept. 10 from the city manager outlining a second revised appropriation that increases 2025 budget authority by $166,400,000, or about 16.4 percent over the first revised appropriation. City Manager Patel Jones told the commission the largest single item is a $150,000,000 increase in the water capital fund to fund preconstruction for an advanced PFAS treatment project supported by an Ohio EPA principal forgiveness loan.

Why it matters: The appropriation would expand the city’s borrowing and spending authority for multiple capital and operating needs this year, including emergency repair authority, public safety equipment, violence reduction programming, and major water and sewer debt-management steps.

Patel Jones summarized the major changes. The general fund increases by about $1.4 million, including a $15,000 donation to the police department to buy drones for HNT and SWAT operations, a $25,000 transfer to the capital fund for public computers in recreation centers, and a $73,000 transfer from contingency to fully fund year one of a violence reduction program. The $1.4 million also includes budget authority for emergency building repairs to stabilize the 34 North Main site under an agreement approved at the prior meeting.

Special-projects and capital changes include a large special-projects fund increase to establish a $450,000 violence disruption program, a $625,100 increase for the Preschool Promise fund (funded by liquidation of 2024 encumbrances), and $4.2 million for Helena Street (EPIK) renovations, $2 million for One Main improvements (former Montgomery County Fairgrounds development), and $4.69 million for phase 3 of Kettering Fields renovations. Aviation operating funds rose about $319,300 for winter fuel, x-ray equipment, rooftop boiler inspections and roof/elevator repairs among other items.

On the debt side, accrued interest was used to pay down earlier debt: $937,900 from 2016 accrued interest to reduce 2018 water debt, and $1,445,000 from accrued interest to reduce 2020 sewer debt; the sewer operating fund also adds $44,700 to restore a 2024 purchase order that was accidentally closed. The public works fleet shop budget increased about $190,000 to cover overtime costs through year end.

Commissioner Sloss asked for clarity on the $1.4 million emergency repairs and noted that, if the commission wishes to approve that item specifically, it will need a separate vote when the ordinance is before the body. The manager confirmed this presentation was the first reading of the appropriation; commissioners then moved, seconded and voted to adopt the city manager’s recommendations on first reading.

No final adoption vote or detailed roll-call tally for the second revised appropriation was recorded in the public portion of the transcript; Patel Jones and staff indicated additional ordinance readings and separate votes will follow for items requiring specific legal approval.

Next steps: The ordinance amending the city’s appropriations for 2025 (ordinance 32159-25) received its first reading; staff said items that need separate legal action will return for individual votes and that final plan and permitting steps remain for several capital projects.