Finance committee forwards Q3 budget amendments, $726K in one‑time augmentations and personnel reclassification

The Finance Committee voted April 29 to recommend City Council adopt amendments to the city’s FY 2024–25 operating and capital budgets following the third‑quarter review through March 31.

Budget Officer Felicia Glendo reported general fund expenditures were approximately 63% of the approved operating budget and general fund revenues collected about 64% of the estimate as of March 31 (sales tax receipts lag by two months). She summarized enterprise fund performance: Water operating expenses roughly 64% with revenues at about 83% of year‑to‑date estimates; Wastewater operating revenues about 83% with expenses about 60%; Storm Drain revenues about 75% with expenses around 65%.

Glendo presented augmentation requests totaling approximately $726,000 (about $480,000 from general fund and $246,000 from other funds). Notable one‑time and near‑term requests included security cameras for City Hall, a council dais extension for council chambers, stormwater trash‑capture devices (a regulatory requirement under the city’s Phase II NPDES stormwater permit), replacement of a vehicle used for pest management, and a $468,000 request for fire radio replacements. Additional funds from a county CDBG allocation were added to a temporary/emergency housing project; staff said those funds needed appropriation into the CIP but did not increase project cost.

Glendo also presented a non‑budgetary personnel amendment in Land Development: converting contract services funding into a new assistant engineer position. Staff said the change is cost‑neutral in operations by reducing contract dollars and will support workload as development activity grows; the fully loaded cost was estimated at about $202,200 annually (about $18,000 for the remainder of the current fiscal year). Director of Finance Sarah Castro added that recent successful recruitments reduced dependence on external contract engineering services.

Committee members probed reasons for increases in vehicle and building maintenance (storms, aging facilities, parts and supply costs) and asked for clarification on IT and recreation licensing costs. Residents who spoke during public comment urged better staffing retention in the city’s engineering group and highlighted the delay in completing some CIP projects when engineering capacity is constrained.

A motion to recommend council adoption of the operating and capital budget amendments and authorize the budget officer to amend the position control roster passed on roll call: Chairperson Evans — yes; Co‑Chairperson Abercrombie — yes.