Finance committee amends $50,000 appropriation request to $20,000 and approves funding for service-general legal expenses

The Newark City Council finance committee voted to reduce a requested $50,000 appropriation to $20,000 and approved the amended amount at a committee meeting. Councilmember Parker moved the main motion and Councilmember Hauser seconded; Councilmember Barker moved the amendment to $20,000 and Councilmember Alder seconded.

Committee discussion included a review of recent spending in the service‑general account, which covers attorney fees and related expenses. A committee member reported the city spent $86,075 in 2024; the total amended budget for the account is $142,095; year‑to‑date spending is $106,571.25; and $35,523.75 is encumbered (purchase orders exist but the money has not yet been spent). Based on those figures, members supported reducing the immediate appropriation to $20,000 and said staff could return if additional funds were needed before the end of the year.

The amendment to reduce the appropriation from $50,000 to $20,000 passed by voice vote (recorded in the transcript as 5 to 0). The committee then voted to approve the $20,000 appropriation (also recorded as passing 5 to 0). With the approval, the finance committee adjourned.

The transcript indicates members speaking on the item but does not record full first names for all speakers; recorded last names in the discussion include Parker, Hauser, Barker and Alder. The chair also noted at the start of the meeting that nothing was decided during the executive session that preceded the votes.