The Finance Committee on June 2 approved a slate of year‑end transfers and a separate free‑cash capital package to fund equipment, infrastructure and operating shortfalls.

Year‑end transfers: The committee approved the mayor’s FY25 year‑end transfer requests, including $1,321,219 from undesignated free cash to cover a snow‑and‑ice deficit, and a $19,500 transfer of wireless-antenna receipts into the open‑space stabilization account. The committee also approved a $340,000 set of transfers from various DPW salary lines to professional/technical and repair accounts, amended on the floor to a $335,000 transfer after the committee removed a $5,000 line item. The committee approved $53,500 to fund legal services for ongoing matters, including collective bargaining. All of those transfers carried on voice votes, typically 5–0.

Capital outlay from free cash: The committee also considered a $4,351,873 request to move free cash into capital outlay for FY2026 capital needs across the police department, information technology and public works. The mayor’s letter listed several department requests and supporting documentation. Committee action divided the package into line items and approved them on individual motions:

- DPW equipment: $1,800,000 for four replacement vehicles (including a vacuum/jet truck, vac sweeper, swap-dump vehicle and sidewalk equipment). The department said the jet truck and vac sweeper are increasingly difficult to keep operational and that ordering now avoids multi‑year waits for chassis and specialized equipment. Approved 5–0.

- Sewer system hydraulic model: $300,000 to support flow‑metering and hydraulic modeling to identify inflow and infiltration pinch points and to model impacts from development and heavier storm events. DPW staff said the models follow flow‑meter data already being collected; approval 5–0.

- Ward Park wading pool: $1,000,000. Committee members debated whether to build a full wading pool or a splash pad. Commissioners and the mayor said the capital cost is now comparable to a splash pad because of design changes; supporters said residents repeatedly requested a pool. The motion to fund the pool passed 4–2–1 (four in favor, two opposed, one recorded absent). The mayor said, if funded, construction would be timed so the pool would not open this summer but would be completed before the next season.

- IT and school hardware: $811,585 for virtual production/administration servers, licensing and updated school hardware. IT Director Gibbs explained the request covers enterprise licensing for virtualization (Proxmox admin servers and storage updates) and Chromebooks/hardware for the schools; the committee approved 5–0 and discussed procurement timing and potential tariffs.

- Police capital: $440,288 to replace marked cruisers, replace bulletproof vests (on a five‑year replacement cycle), replace tasers and cartridges, and install perimeter fencing at the police station after officers reported people photographing license plates and looking into vehicles in the station lot. Chief Georgi said some equipment can be repurposed, but much of the vehicle-specific equipment cannot be reused across model years. Committee approved 5–0.

Committee members discussed funding sources, procurement timing and vacancies that produced salary underruns used to fund year‑end transfers. The finance chair and commissioners emphasized transfers came primarily from underruns in salary accounts (vacancies) and that moving money from those lines will not reduce operations because the positions remain vacant. The committee granted routine suspensions where requested so the auditor can close the year.

Next steps: Many of the transfers required only committee approval and were recommended for final action by the full council; the capital-outlay free‑cash transfer will be placed on the full council agenda for final appropriation and award of contracts following procurement.