Council approves ordinance amendment to move $8 million in municipal grants to capital projects

The City Council voted to approve an ordinance amendment that transfers $8,000,000 in additional municipal grants and aid into the city’s capital fund to pay for eligible capital projects. The amendment also included pre-allocation language for authorized general-obligation bond proceeds.

The measure was presented to the council as an amendment to Ordinance No. 3 for fiscal year 2025–2026 and described by a city official as a transfer of $8,000,000 in municipal grants to fund projects previously included in the capital fund budget. “This ordinance amendment transfers $8,000,000 in additional municipal grants and aid to fund projects previously included in the city's capital fund budget,” the presenter said during the meeting.

The council recorded multiple affirmative votes during the roll call, and members were urged by supporters to approve the motion because the funds would help address deferred maintenance in city schools. A representative from Verizon, speaking during the item, voiced support and said the schools “are in severe disobeying and need repair” and encouraged colleagues to back the amendment.

Nut graf: The amendment reallocates one-time municipal grant receipts into capital spending buckets; council members said the funding is intended to accelerate repairs and capital work that officials identified as priorities for school facilities and other capital needs.

Councilmembers discussed the measure briefly before voting. The meeting record includes recorded “Yes” responses during the roll call for the item, after which the chair concluded the vote.

Ending: The ordinance amendment moves the specified grant amounts into capital project accounts; the item’s proponents framed the change as a reallocation of existing municipal aid rather than a new tax or bond levy. No additional implementation dates or project-by-project funding lists were provided in the meeting excerpt.