Pocatello City Council approves FY2025 appropriation increase, multiple grants and zoning code changes

The Pocatello City Council on Feb. 19 approved a package of budget amendments, grant applications, professional services agreements and zoning code changes, including an amendment to the FY2025 appropriations ordinance that increases total expenditures by $7,157,995.

Jean Hill of the finance department told the council the appropriation increase covers a mix of unanticipated grant revenues and previously unappropriated cash balances. "The total budget is $7,100,000. For the general fund it's $1,900,000, of which $750,000 is going to fire to buy a brush truck," Hill said, adding that some funds will pay for fixtures at Fire Station 2. Hill also said water pollution control (WPC) will move roughly $3.7 million to pay down debt and to a capital savings account.

The council approved several grant-related items. The city will submit a Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) application to the U.S. Forest Service for a project with total costs not to exceed $4,836,555; the staff report says there is no city match required for that application. The council also endorsed a Surface Transportation Block Grant application through the Bannock Transportation Planning Organization (BTPO) for the Highline Road Complete Streets project,…