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Council advances council‑specific budget changes but stalls on $38,160 composting allocation
Summary
Councilors reviewed an ordinance to amend appropriations that included two council budget items and a proposed $38,160 line for a composting program. Members agreed to move forward with the $35,000 in council‑specific items for first reading while seeking exhibits and county certification before finalizing the composting allocation.
The Cleveland Heights City Council Committee of the Whole reviewed an ordinance that would amend the city’s appropriations and debated where to place a proposed $38,160 allocation for a composting program.
Council members said two council‑specific items — a $10,000 internship line and a $25,000 council discretionary fund — were appropriate to include in council’s budget. An alternate exhibit circulating before the meeting also put $38,160 for a composting program into the council budget; councilors and staff disagreed about which fund should actually hold that composting money and whether the exhibit in the packet reflected the council’s intent.
Assistant Law Director Heltzel and city finance staff explained the procedural constraint: Ohio Revised Code 5705.39 requires the county auditor to certify that funds are available before most appropriations become effective. Finance staff suggested the simplest operational sequence would be to increase the general fund, transfer the amount into the refuse fund and then increase refuse appropriations so the refuse fund is not diminished. The finance director said the refuse fund’s current balance would need to be verified before any transfer.
Councilwoman Larson — the legislation’s sponsor — indicated she intended to proceed only with the two council‑specific items on first reading (the $35,000 total) and to provide exhibits showing precise line‑item changes for the $38,160 composting entry before adopting it. Several council members requested the exhibit and line‑item detail before a vote; Councilor Petrus said he supported the programs in principle but wanted to see the exhibit that shows where the $38,160 would be plugged in.
Multiple members said the administration’s finance staff and the county budget commission would handle the auditor certification and any necessary transfers. The mayor and finance director said they were coordinating with the county budget commission to confirm available balances and certification steps.
No final appropriation or transfer was adopted at the meeting; councilors agreed to move forward with first reading for the $35,000 council adjustments and to produce exhibits and fund‑balance details for the composting allocation prior to any adoption vote.
