Finance committee approves multiple appropriations, accepts DOJ and JAG grant actions and moves to executive session on union talks

The Newark City Council finance committee unanimously approved a series of appropriation and fund‑transfer requests at its Nov. 3 meeting and authorized the mayor to apply for a federal law enforcement partnership grant.

At the start of the meeting the presiding member reported the city’s unappropriated general fund balance was $234,019 and the budget stabilization fund held $604,768. The committee then considered a resolution authorizing the mayor to apply for funding from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) partnership grant program to support the division of fire (arson investigators), the division of police and probation-related work. A staff member said the city "can purchase an MIG through the best, and we will be reimbursed for half the cost." The committee approved the resolution on a motion by Council Member Hauser, second by Council Member Barker, with members voting "aye."

The committee approved several transfers and appropriations intended to reclassify legacy project funds into active operating accounts for stormwater and to support a landfill reclamation project. A staff member explained these were funds "put in projects or stormwater projects 10 plus years ago, and the money has just been sitting in there," and asked that the balances be moved into the stormwater cash fund. Motions to move the small legacy balances and to appropriate $4,806.02 for landfill reclamation both passed unanimously.

Council Member (Speaker 4) requested $2,539.98 to supplement coverage for Newark High School football games; the committee approved that appropriation 5–0.

The committee also approved a $621,124.42 appropriation from Fund 931, the Joint Economic Development Zone (JEDZ) Fund. A council member said the fund "has collected more than anticipated" and that the appropriation will be distributed "in accordance to the legislation" rather than becoming general city revenue. The presiding member reiterated that distributions follow the enabling legislation and the appropriation was approved on a unanimous vote.

On a public safety grant item, a staff member described a $37,195.42 appropriation tied to a Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) from the State of Ohio to improve officer safety. The staff member said the state is using funds from its 2022 federal allocation (describing it as "old money") and that the grant cycle was abbreviated; as a result, the city "has to cover the city's cost before" state reimbursement will arrive and the city will not be reimbursed before year-end. Council members expressed concern about tight budget projections but approved the appropriation and a subsequent internal transfer of the same amount to move the appropriation between accounts.

Finally, the committee voted to enter executive session to discuss union negotiations with all council members, the law director’s office, HR and administration present. The presiding member called the roll; Council Members Barker, Hauser, Cost, Neely and Marmee voted yes, and the committee went into executive session.

The committee took no further public action before adjourning the session into executive session.