Forest Park council approves year-end budget amendments after debate over overtime forecasting

Forest Park — The Forest Park Mayor and Council voted unanimously Oct. 20 to approve three budget amendments for fiscal year 2024–25 that realign existing appropriations and authorize internal transfers, including a $31,000 projected increase to overtime for the executive office.

City finance staff told the council the changes are a routine year-end realignment to reflect actual expenses and to ensure compliance with budget controls. "These reflect responsible financial stewardship as the finance department continues its quarterly review and forecasting of expenditures," a finance presenter said.

Council members pressed staff on the overtime projection, particularly the portion the amendment would allocate to council aides. Councilwoman James said she wanted the council to reconsider adding the amount because it could reflect poorly on elected officials if council aides appear to be receiving what she called "a lot of overtime." She asked staff whether flex-time arrangements discussed under the previous manager had been implemented and whether the overtime forecast accounted for that.

Deputy Director Patterson explained the finance department's forecasting method: "We took the current quarter average of overtime and then used that average, multiplied it by 3 more quarters…so that's just the forecasting that we spoke about." He and other finance staff said the department compiles historical payroll data and presents a net-neutral internal reallocation so departments remain within overall budgeted totals.

Interim City Manager Clemens confirmed the amendment is meant to realign line items and not to increase the overall budget. She also acknowledged there may be opportunities to expand flex-time where operationally appropriate but said that oversight of overtime belongs to individual department heads.

After discussion, Councilwoman Wells, Councilwoman James and other members expressed support for the amendment while urging directors to monitor overtime and use flex-time when possible. The council approved the amendments on a recorded vote with all members voting yes.

The amendment package includes: 1) a final year-end adjustment realigning funds within existing accounts; 2) an internal transfer within the chief executive office to cover current expenditures using salary savings; and 3) a revenue alignment in the municipal court to allow state-mandated court payments to be paid from corresponding revenue sources.

The council and finance staff said they will review actuals next quarter and will adjust the forecast if trends change.

Votes at a glance

- Budget amendments for FY 2024–25 (final adjustment, executive office transfer, municipal court revenue alignment): Approved unanimously (Council members James, Gunn, Gutierrez, Akins Wells, Mears: yes).