Council approves three budget and sewer-related ordinances; all roll-call votes recorded as six in favor, one absent

Binghamton City Council on Wednesday approved three ordinances amending wage and budget lines, including changes tied to the sewage treatment plant and year-end general fund adjustments.

Council members approved: an ordinance to implement a contractually obligated hourly increase tied to an existing sewage treatment plant labor contract (ORD 025-01); an amendment to the sewage treatment facility budget to move funds to cover unusually high chemical usage and offset electricity costs (ORD 025-02); and an amendment to the 2024 general fund budget to cover over-budget year‑end items by transfers, extra revenues and a draw on fund balance if needed (ORD 025-03).

The measures drew brief explanation from Council member and finance committee chair Council member Kavanaugh and passed on roll-call votes with Council members Middleton, Kavanaugh, Rathmell, Madivetski, Hotchkiss and Council president Dunton voting aye; Council member Porter was recorded as absent.

Kavanaugh told the council ORD 025-01 implements “the contractually obligated increase, from the sewage treatment plant, labor contract.” On ORD 025-02 he said the city saw “an exceptionally large amount of chemicals used in the last month” and that savings on electricity—because extra solids increased biogas and turbine generation—offset some of the cost, so the ordinance rebalances the treatment facility budget. On ORD 025-03 Kavanaugh summarized that the ordinance moves leftover balances from several lines, uses extra investment interest and some tax and state/federal aid, and may draw on fund balance to cover higher electricity costs and overtime used late in the year.

Deputy clerk conducted roll calls after each vote. For each ordinance the roll-call tally was recorded as six ayes and one absent. No amendments were offered during the council discussion and no public hearing occurred on these items at this meeting.

Votes at a glance

ORD 025-01 — Ordinance to amend 2025 hourly employee rates (sewage treatment labor contract increase): Moved by Council member Kavanaugh; second not specified on the record; Roll-call: Middleton — Aye; Kavanaugh — Aye; Rathmell — Aye; Madivetski — Aye; Hotchkiss — Aye; Dunton — Aye; Porter — Absent; Outcome: Approved.

ORD 025-02 — Ordinance to amend 2024 sewage treatment facility budget (increase chemicals / decrease electricity): Moved by Council member Kavanaugh; second not specified on the record; Roll-call: Middleton — Aye; Kavanaugh — Aye; Rathmell — Aye; Madivetski — Aye; Hotchkiss — Aye; Dunton — Aye; Porter — Absent; Outcome: Approved.

ORD 025-03 — Ordinance to amend the 2024 general fund budget (year‑end overages): Moved by Council member Kavanaugh; second not specified on the record; Roll-call: Middleton — Aye; Kavanaugh — Aye; Rathmell — Aye; Madivetski — Aye; Hotchkiss — Aye; Dunton — Aye; Porter — Absent; Outcome: Approved.

Council recorded no further action or formal referrals connected to these ordinances at the meeting. Kavanaugh said staff will continue to monitor revenues—including a larger-than-expected sales-tax inflow—and that the city may not need to use the full fund-balance amount if additional revenue materializes.

The council moved from these items to communications and appointments later in the meeting.