Council amends appropriations ordinance to add updated capital exhibit, refers budget back to finance committee

Council members voted Feb. 18 to amend ordinance 011-2025, the city’s 2025 appropriations ordinance, to substitute a new Exhibit 1 supplied by the mayor so the finance committee will have an up‑to‑date capital list to review.

The amendment was introduced by Councilwoman Amy Larson and seconded by Councilman DeAndre Maddox. Larson said the motion would bring forward the ordinance for “second reading only” and that the mayor would provide the exhibit the administration wants substituted so the updated capital list can be discussed in committee. "This is only to bring it forth to the public," Larson said during discussion.

Mayor Saren told council the amended exhibit reflects additional administration capital requests totaling about $9,000,000. "The addition of that $9,000,000 of capital expense is found in this amended appropriations ordinance that requires a second reading at this meeting…This is a perfunctory procedural move," he said, adding council retains full authority to amend or reject items when the committee reviews them.

Council members debated whether the amendment was premature because the finance committee planned additional hearings. Councilman Michael Petras said returning the measure to committee after the group finishes its review would be preferable. Council Vice President Davita Russell and others said they supported moving the exhibit forward so the committee has the official numbers in front of it; councilman Josh Posh said he would vote yes “in the spirit of trying to get this budget passed.”

Larson and other council members noted outstanding financial materials the council requested, including a full 2025 budget book, 2024 year‑end fund balances and the 2024 capital carryover; Larson said staff estimated the year‑end fund balances would be ready Feb. 24 and that the finance committee planned additional meetings, including one the following day.

After brief discussion the council voted to adopt the amendment by substitution; the legislation was then referred back to the finance committee chaired by Larson for further review ahead of the council’s target date for a final budget vote in March. Council members emphasized the substitution did not finalize spending — it only updated the ordinance’s exhibit so the committee can consider the current capital requests.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 011-2025 (amend Exhibit 1 by substitution): motion by Councilwoman Larson; second by Councilman Maddox; voice vote "aye," motion carried; referred to Finance Committee for further review. - Ordinance 021-2025 (sale of 1.049 acres on Lancashire Road to enable senior housing): adopted (see separate article). - Ordinance 024-2025 (establish July 2025 recess): adopted. - Resolution 025-2025 (contract with Tech Computer Inc. for police software): adopted. - Resolution 026-2025 (reappointments to Citizens Advisory Committee): adopted. - Ordinance 022-2025 (apply for NOPEC energized community grants): adopted. - Ordinance 010-2025 (zoning code updates): adopted. (Several other items were introduced, referred, or held at first reading as noted in council minutes.)

Why it matters: Council must adopt a complete appropriations ordinance for 2025. Substituting Exhibit 1 places the administration’s updated capital requests before the finance committee so members can examine and amend them before the council’s scheduled budget finalization later in March. The mayor and staff said the substituted exhibit compiles capital requests department‑by‑department and fund‑by‑fund so committee members have accurate figures for deliberation.

What’s next: The finance committee will continue hearings on the capital list, with a committee meeting scheduled the day after the Feb. 18 council meeting and a target of returning the budget to full council for final consideration in early March.