Council approves midyear budget amendment and authorizes tax certifications and advances

Waterville council passed an emergency amendment to its FY2025 appropriations ordinance and adopted resolutions related to property-tax collections during Monday’s meeting.

City Manager John Gokenauer summarized ordinance 0925 — the third budget amendment of 2025 — noting additional revenue and higher costs in several areas, including health care and public safety, and said staff expects a final year-end amendment in December. The council suspended rules and approved ordinance 0925 for immediate effect by roll call.

Council also approved Resolution 02825 requesting that the Lucas County Auditor issue advance payments on 2026 property-tax collections; staff said the request is the city’s annual routine to obtain a portion of property-tax revenue earlier in the collection cycle. Council passed Resolution 02925 accepting the amounts and rates determined by the county budget commission and authorizing the levies for collection; Gokenauer told council the commission’s figures showed an increase in the city’s inside millage revenue (an estimated $248,000 increase) and an approximately $30,000 increase to outside millage collections, likely reflecting revaluations and newly taxable parcels.

Council did not debate the resolutions at length; members asked clarifying questions about how advances are distributed and whether advance requests change the county’s schedule. Staff said advances are routine and that the county will still collect as scheduled if advances are not requested.

Legislation and resolutions passed by roll call will be reflected in the city’s financial records and used to update staff budgeting and capital-planning assumptions.