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Council discusses large appropriation amendment, oversight concerns for fire headquarters project
Summary
Council members debated amendments to the 2025 appropriation ordinance that increase funding for the new fire headquarters and other capital items, with questions about prior unassigned appropriations, change orders, and additional costs for art and recreational projects tied to the larger construction budget.
Athens City Council members discussed an amendment to the 2025 appropriation ordinance that would increase appropriations tied to the new fire headquarters and related capital projects, but did not vote on the measure at Monday’s meeting.
The amendment (Ordinance 63-25) would appropriate specific sums from unappropriated balances — including $350,000 to the Safety Services Fund (206) and $30,000 to the Capital Improvements Fund (580) — and would increase the project authorization amounts, including expanding a project total to $14,352,000 and raising the Safety Services Fund portion from $9,000,000 to $9,932,000. Member Thomas reviewed the ordinance’s line-item changes during the first reading.
Council members asked for clarification about an earlier $500,000 appropriation that, according to Member Seck’s questions, did not have a clearly identified project in the materials provided to council. “What was this appropriated to pay for originally?” Seck asked. Auditor Hecht and the mayor said they would provide a firm answer, noting possible ties to the armory project or a purchased fire pumper expected in 2026.
Concerns about additional costs and oversight surfaced in several exchanges. Member Wood asked whether the administration had taken on roughly $200,000 in projects without prior council approval; the mayor and other staff characterized the situation as an oversight amid multiple concurrent issues, including several change orders, a $722,000 scam against the city, and open purchase orders. Auditor Hecht explained that some expenditures are expected to be reimbursed through FEMA or other sources.
Council members also asked about specific cost overruns. Member Swank said the art walk project cost an additional $63,000 beyond what was anticipated, and that the city’s contribution to a sport court was about $192,000. The mayor and staff said some items (for example, art and fitness equipment) are partly reimbursable or tied to previously authorized percentages baked into the main project budget, while other increases exceeded those allowances.
No motion was recorded to adopt the ordinance at this meeting; the item was considered in the first-reading stage and remains pending further clarification and documentation. Council members requested follow-up information about the previously appropriated $500,000, the exact composition of the $200,000 in additional projects, and which costs are expected to be reimbursed by FEMA or grants.
Council members and staff said they would return with additional details in future committee meetings and in materials distributed before the ordinance’s next council reading.
