Board approves contingency transfers, backs SRO overtime and uses state aid to backfill accounts

The Board of Estimate and Taxation approved multiple transfers Nov. 3 to reconcile fiscal 2025 budgets and to fund items in fiscal 2026.

City staff told the board that retroactive wage adjustments and other reconciliations left several department budgets short and required contingency transfers. For fiscal 2025 the transfers came mainly from contingency and totaled roughly $346,000 to true up affected department lines, city staff said.

During the fiscal 26 discussion, the board approved several transfers individually. The package included an $8,000 internal transfer in Corporation Counsel to renew an enhanced Westlaw contract; a $500,000 contingency request for police overtime to support school roving patrols; $5,000 to adjust a building management title and $16,000 of internal recreation and parks account moves, among smaller items.

Mayor Rilling and other members described the SRO overtime as a response to increased concerns about school safety. The mayor said the department has roving patrol officers who appear at school grounds on a randomized schedule; he described the approach as more flexible than hiring new full‑time officers, noting hiring increases health and pension costs. “You could assign them where they're needed,” the mayor said, describing overtime shifts as a targeted, flexible response.

Board members asked whether the SRO overtime should be budgeted as a recurring item rather than addressed yearly through contingency. Tom said he has discussed that with police leadership, and the department plans to include the amount in future requests and to show year‑over‑year numbers both with and without the contingency overlay.

Separately, staff explained a larger fiscal action tied to state aid: the city received $10,000,000 in municipal grant‑in‑aid and committed part of those funds to the Board of Education. To supply $3,000,000 to the Board of Education this year, staff proposed transferring money from the transit district and several DPW accounts and backfilling those municipal accounts with $3,000,000 of the state grant. The board approved the transfers and the appropriation authorization for the $3,000,000 municipal grant funds.

Board members asked for a short strategic plan describing intended uses for the remaining state grant funds; staff said they expect a plan within two to three months so the new administration can participate in the decision.

On voice votes the board approved the FY25 contingency true‑ups, the FY26 transfers described in the packet and the municipal grant appropriation authorization.