Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Robinson council approves midyear budget amendment to cover fire equipment, election costs and grants work
Summary
Council approved amendments increasing this year’s beginning fund balance and adding $120,104 in appropriations to cover emergency equipment for the new ladder truck, higher election costs, grant consulting fees and unexpected police vehicle maintenance.
The Robinson City Council approved an amendment to the fiscal year 2024–25 budget on April 8 that raises the beginning fund balance and adds roughly $120,104 in appropriations to cover several unbudgeted or underbudgeted needs.
City staff told the council the audit-adjusted beginning balance rose from $6,023,433 to $6,869,020, a change of $845,587. The amendment increases total expenditures by $120,104, leaving an updated projected ending fund balance of $6,755,880 — an increase of $725,483 compared with the original projection.
Key additions in Exhibit A, as presented by city staff, include: - $53,985 to the fire department contract line item to purchase equipment that must be bought this fiscal year for a new ladder truck arriving later this summer; vendors supplying permanently attached equipment will bill under separate contract terms. - An increase in the mayor and council election expense from $3,500 to $9,119 to cover higher costs from a November election held during a statewide presidential cycle. - $30,500 increase in professional services for grant-related work and the city’s 20 percent share ($10,000) of a traffic/streets sign inventory performed through the regional MPO; staff included $7,500 and $13,000 individual project orders under a master agreement for grant consulting (see separate consent item). - $30,000 added to police vehicle maintenance after unexpected, concentrated repairs on three vehicles exhausted the department’s maintenance budget.
City staff said some grant-related engineering and inventory work must be done in advance of federal approvals and cannot be billed to the grant until the feds accept the agreement; for that reason, the city needs upfront appropriation for consultant and inventory costs. Staff also said the ladder truck’s final outfitting will occur off-site, with expected late-August or early-September local delivery.
Council action: After a public hearing, the council approved the ordinance amending the fiscal year 2024–25 budget by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting minutes.
Context: City staff said the audit produced a larger-than-projected beginning balance, which offset much of the added appropriations and leaves the city with a net increase in projected fund balance. Staff said a midyear review will still be done in June or July to reassess revenues and expenditures.
