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Fort Thomas council and residents press for clarity on budget trajectory as first readings of 2025–26 budget ordinances proceed
Summary
Council members and residents discussed a reported operating shortfall and lower reserves, questioned whether to consider a tax-rate discussion, and heard first readings of budget and personnel ordinances; staff and council committed to further finance-committee work and public engagement.
Resident Seth Jock asked the council to clarify the city’s budget narrative after a May 16 budget message referenced a $7,539,751 shortfall in operating expenditures versus revenues; he asked for a list of “large projects” referenced in the budget message. City staff said the projects are listed in budget materials and that an unsigned draft budget document was distributed before the meeting.
Residents and councilmembers questioned reserve levels. One resident noted the city’s reserves had been about $20 million two years ago and said recent spending has reduced the unrestricted general reserve; staff and council discussed that current unrestricted reserves are “just under $8 million” after recent allocations. Councilmembers debated whether to assume no tax-rate increase for budgeting purposes while still leaving open the option to discuss a tax-rate change.
Staff and council emphasized steps to address the budget trajectory: the finance committee will meet this summer to examine reserve policy (target levels such as three or six months of operating reserves were discussed), staff will provide corrected budget totals where needed, and council indicated it wants a balanced budget and to avoid using recurring tax increases as a quick fix for reserves.
Why it matters: budget choices affect the city’s long-term fiscal sustainability, services and capital projects. Several residents urged the council to be transparent about major projects and to avoid rapid depletion of reserves.
Ordinances presented: staff read the first readings of multiple ordinances including an ordinance amending the current fiscal-year general fund budget (Ordinance O0072025), an ordinance adopting the fiscal-year 2025–26 budgets for multiple funds (Ordinance O0082025), and an ordinance amending the personnel/pay classification plan to increase the official pay table by 4% (Ordinance O092025). These were presented for first reading; council did not take final votes on budget adoption during this session.
Next steps: staff will circulate corrected figures, the finance committee will convene for further review (staff indicated a summer schedule), and the ordinances will return for subsequent readings and any required public hearings. Residents asked for audit results and continued council engagement as the process moves forward.
