Georgetown council adopts $69.5 million budget, receives clean FY24 audit and approves multiple municipal orders

The Georgetown City Council on June 23 adopted the city's fiscal year 2025'26 budget and approved a related budget amendment, after the council heard a presentation that the city's FY24 financial statements received a clean (unmodified) opinion from auditors RFH.

City auditors Ashton Powers of RFH told the council the audit issued an unmodified opinion and that the city showed no reportable instances of noncompliance, no material weaknesses in internal control and no findings in the federal single-audit testing. "In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly in all material respects," Powers said (transcript block starting 1811.605). The council then proceeded to act on budget and several municipal items.

The budget adopted by the council sets total city revenues at $69,499,420 and total city expenditures at $80,191,879 for governmental funds; the proprietary fund totals matched at $5,060,259, as read into the record by the clerk. The council also passed a budget amendment to adjust FY24'25 line items (prior year revenues decreased by $1,351,774; multiple department adjustments and transfers noted in the ordinance summary). The amendment and the FY25'26 budget were both read publicly and approved by roll call (both recorded as passing 8'0to'00).

Council members and staff also approved or otherwise acted on a number of municipal orders and resolutions at the meeting, including purchase orders for water and sewer operations, a contractor payout for Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 1 expansion, acceptance of a tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA) grant from the Kentucky Housing Corporation for the city's Office of Affordable Housing and Homelessness Prevention, and assignment of portions of the general fund balance to cover open purchase orders. The council approved a municipal order to purchase a new skid-steer loader (Wilson Equipment, $69,790) to replace a 1993 tractor, and approved payout No. 50 to Judy Construction for the wastewater plant expansion ($410,685.77). The city staff said the plant remains on track for beneficial use on March 31, 2025, and substantial completion by Dec. 31, 2025 (transcript blocks beginning 5033.435 and 5053.8896).

The council authorized personnel ordinance changes that increase headcount in several departments, including two additional permit technician positions in building inspection, additional police captain and officer positions, and more firefighter EMT positions; the ordinance was introduced earlier and read a second time and passed on June 23. The council also approved a municipal order awarding ongoing financial audit services to RFH (the selected firm), after a competitive process; the motion carried 7'to'1 with one recorded no vote (Councilmember Kim Minkie) (transcript blocks near 5567.195 and 6113.875).

Other approved items…