Council approves $130,000 transfer from police salary savings to dispatch

City officials requested and the Springfield City Council approved a $130,000 transfer on June 23 to cover personnel costs in the city dispatch office, including salary increases, higher holiday pay and a one‑time signing bonus.

Kathy Buono, speaking for city finance staff, said an earlier transfer of $75,000 had covered overtime but that dispatch required additional funds for salaries and contractual one‑time signing bonuses. "We transferred $75,000 into dispatch, but that was for their overtime. . . . they actually need another $130,000 to cover salaries, increased holiday pay, and the one‑time signing bonus," Buono told the council.

Buono said the one‑time signing bonus in the labor contracts was $1,500 and that some unions received that payment. She also said the total cost from the union settlements for the affected lines — holiday, overtime and other salary impacts — amounted to $297,000, and that salary savings across departments offset some of the need. The finance presentation described the $130,000 request as a transfer from police salary savings to dispatch.

Councilors asked procedural questions about why the transfer had not appeared at earlier finance committee meetings; Buono said the shortfall resulted from an internal error when previous transfers were made and that the city is closing the 2025 budget now. The council approved the transfer by roll‑call vote.

The approval authorizes the finance office to move $130,000 of salary savings within the city's fiscal year 2025 budget to the dispatch account; Buono apologized to the council for the error and said staff would monitor year‑end budget adjustments.