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Board approves FY2025 budget ordinance after questions about year-end surplus
Summary
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved Ordinance 25-02, adopting the city’s 2025 budgets for multiple funds; board members and residents pressed staff for clarity about large mid‑year surplus figures and potential tax-rate implications.
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted 5 to 1 to adopt Ordinance 25-02, which sets fiscal year 2025 budgets across the general fund, street aid, solid waste, capital and other funds.
During discussion Alderman (name not stated in the record) asked for projections on where the city would end the fiscal year. Finance staff member Mr. Sones said projections showed the city was “holding true” and that the current projection for FY2025 was a surplus of $24,413. He added that new positions were on hold.
Alderman Rees pressed for more detail, asking whether the city was “running a $9,000,000 surplus” shown on a March financial statement and requesting clarity about expected year‑end transfers and cash flow. Resident Chris Richards told the board the March financial statement showed about $9.06 million in savings and said that amount equates to roughly 45 cents on the tax rate; he urged the board to consider those numbers when setting future tax policy.
Mr. Sones and staff did not identify specific fourth-quarter spending items during the public meeting; board members said they would follow up with staff for clarity before the third reading. The clerk recorded the ordinance as passing 5 to 1.
The ordinance also consolidated budget action across multiple funds, including the general fund, street aid fund, solid waste fund, general improvement fund, drug enforcement and DEA enforcement funds, drainage fund, parks improvement fund, Bartlett City School fund, utility fund, debt service fund and capital improvement fund.
