Council adopts 2025 appropriation ordinance setting operating and capital spending
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Summary
Xenia City Council adopted Ordinance 2025-02 as an emergency to set appropriations for 2025 operations, approving total appropriations shown as $88,257,228.90, with staff noting interfund transfers and loans cause double-counting in that total.
The Xenia City Council on Feb. 17 adopted Ordinance 2025-02, declaring an emergency and setting appropriations for the 2025 fiscal year. City staff said the ordinance establishes funding and authorizations for core city services for the year.
"Staff recommends council act to adopt ordinance 2025-02 as an emergency, which will appropriate funds totaling $88,257,228.90 for 2025 operations," City Manager Ms. Raymond told council during her presentation summarizing the budget process and legal requirements. She said the appropriation total includes transfer and interfund loan amounts that are accounted for in multiple funds and therefore can appear to double-count dollars.
Ms. Raymond cited Ohio law and the city charter as the reason for the timing of the appropriation: "The Ohio Uniform Tax Levy Law, as articulated in ORC 5705.38, requires council to adopt an annual appropriation ordinance on or before April 1 of the year ... This is also required by city charter section 9.05 a." She described the ordinance as the final step after budget planning that began in February 2024, public comment in November 2024, and committee and full-council review in January 2025.
Council members highlighted several line items and projects during discussion. Councilman Reynolds thanked staff and listed investments in the proposed budget including $50,000 for recreational programming, $300,000 for a SWAT vehicle, $10,000 for the Xenia Food Pantry, and $413,000 for park upgrades. When Reynolds asked about paving projects, Mr. Duke (public service director) responded that three primary paving projects—Country Club, East Church, and Shiel and Tower Road—had paving costs of about $1,800,000 and that additional inner Market District paving totaled about $1,700,000, for about $3,500,000 in surface improvements overall. Ms. Raymond said bids on primary roadway projects came in under budget and staff expects roughly $300,000 in savings that could fund an additional roadway this year.
Reynolds moved adoption of Ordinance 2025-02 as an emergency, and the motion was seconded by Councilwoman Solis. The roll call included aye votes recorded on the transcript (Councilman Reynolds, Councilman Crawford, Councilman Crocker, Councilwoman Sridays, President Smith) and the president announced the motion carries.
Council did not record additional conditions or contingency approvals on the public record at the meeting. Staff indicated the appropriation includes interfund transfers of $18,500,000 and interfund loans of $2,600,000 which are included in the total appropriation figure for accounting purposes.
