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Finance committee reviews payments 2 and 3 of FTA repayment plan, legislative contingency likely reduced to about $20,000
Summary
The Williamsport Finance Committee discussed a resolution to authorize the second and third payments on an FTA repayment plan using funds moved into legislative contingency, noted uncertainty about funding the remaining payments and called for a prompt plan to replenish contingency funds.
The Williamsport City Council Finance Committee on Tuesday discussed a resolution to authorize payments 2 and 3 of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) repayment plan to be paid from legislative contingency funds.
Committee chair Liz Mealy said the funds moved into legislative contingency had been intended for several uses and that the proposed payments will substantially reduce the balance. "We didn't move $70,000 until it's just like a contingency," Mealy said during the meeting.
The discussion matters because legislative contingency requires at least four city council members' approval to spend, and the committee does not yet have a finalized plan to cover the remaining FTA payments. "We do not have a finalized, line item where this is gonna be coming from," Jamie Livermore said. "I've been discussing it with the mayor, and I think that he's had some discussions with city council about it. But, as of right now, we do not have a finalized answer on that." Livermore added that officials need to decide soon so the funding source is clear for the rest of the year.
Committee members walked through rough math during the meeting and estimated the contingency balance would fall to about $20,000 if the second and third payments are approved from that account. Members stressed the need to "jump start" conversations about reloading legislative contingency so planned uses — such as negotiations and legal fees — remain funded.
Committee member Randy Allison asked how far along officials were in forming a plan for the remaining payments; Mealy and Livermore encouraged follow-up discussions with the mayor and council to identify a stable funding source. The meeting also touched on whether previously earmarked parks work — now paid by a third party — could be repurposed for the FTA payments. Livermore said she did not believe that the parks funding fell under Act 13 rules and therefore would not be available: "I don't believe so. No. I don't think it falls under the rules for act 13."
No formal committee vote on the resolution is recorded in the transcript of the finance committee meeting.
The committee concluded by asking staff to bring options to council as soon as possible so the administration and council can settle a plan for the remainder of the FTA repayment schedule.
