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North Canton adjusts 2025 appropriations after Civic Center revenue shortfall and capital savings
Summary
Council moved mid‑year appropriation amendments to address lower Civic Center rentals, the sale of 620 North Main, a $250,000 capital savings on a fire mini‑pumper reallocated to Price Park, insurance stop‑loss timing and several small grants and donations.
North Canton — City staff asked the City Council July 14 to approve mid‑year appropriations that reflect revenue shifts and expenditure adjustments through July, including a shortfall in Civic Center rentals and a reallocation of capital funding after a fire department equipment change.
Finance staff said Civic Center rental revenue is expected to be about $171,500 lower than projected, and administration trimmed related management‑contract expenditures tied to event profit share. Staff also reported the Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) sold 620 North Main and transferred $170,000 of sale proceeds back to the city.
On the expenditure side, the fire department identified a change in the planned mini‑pumper purchase: staff found a pickup‑chassis option that would cost roughly $250,000 less than the originally quoted unit on a dump truck chassis. Because city ordinances require use of certain capital funds this year, staff proposed reallocating the $250,000 saving to the Price Park project and to the Forest Development Fund.
Other adjustments included: certification of small grants and donations (an EMS Ohio Department of Public Safety grant of $2,725 and a police donation of $1,500 noted in the packet), changes in IT phone‑system billing timing, payout of vacation accruals and stop‑loss insurance claims that will be reimbursed later but require temporary increases in appropriations.
Why it matters: Staff said July is a close‑out month for the fiscal year, and the amendments aim to “true up” revenue and spending so the administration can begin preparing the 2026 budget in August. Council approved moving the appropriation ordinance to the council agenda and approved suspension votes where needed for timely action.
What council heard: Finance staff said interest income was higher than originally projected and that rental revenue projections are complex because they vary by event type and profit‑share arrangements. Council members pressed for details on event counts and marketing, and staff said the city lost momentum after pausing Civic Center operations and professional management changed catering and vendor rules, which may have reduced low‑budget bookings.
Next steps: Council moved the appropriation language (ordinances 45 and 46 referenced in the meeting) forward for adoption. Staff will finalize the appropriation ordinance language and return to council for formal vote and execution.
