Gainesville Nov. 20, 2025 The Gainesville City Commission on Thursday night adopted Resolution 2025-928, the final amendment to the city's general government budget for fiscal year 2024-25, approving year-end reconciliations, new grant awards and several interdepartmental adjustments.

The resolution, introduced as the only substantive agenda item, was described by Susan Boyd, senior budget analyst in the city's Office of Management and Budget, as a statutorily required reconciliation filed within 60 days of the fiscal year's close. Boyd said the amendment includes a $1.7 million GASB 96 auditing entry and multiple appropriations and transfers to align department budgets with actual spending.

"We are statutorily required to do this last amendment within 60 days of the close of the fiscal year," Boyd said as she reviewed key entries. She listed a $1.2 million personnel overage in Fire Rescue that was addressed by transfers from other departments, a $52,000 transfer to cover GRU litigation expenses and smaller year-end reconciliations for City Clerk and other offices.

Commissioner Eastman pressed staff on the composition of the Fire Rescue overage, saying it was not solely overtime. "A little over $300,000 roughly, compared to the $1.2 million number," Eastman said, urging that future budget materials clarify the mix of retirements, staffing changes and overtime that produced the variance.

The amendment also records several new grants and program funds, including a $354,000 award tied to the International City/County Management Association for an economic mobility director position (salary and some operating funds for 24 months) and a $55,000 grant from the Division of State Fire Marshal for hazmat sustainment. Boyd said other revenue included funds from the sale of golf carts, a capital surcharge tied to Ironwood, and allocations for Wild Spaces Public Places projects such as an operating set-aside for the Hippodrome project.

Commissioners asked for clarification about project-specific reallocations after noting similar dollar figures tied to separate projects (Thelma Bolton-related adjustments and a boardwalk project); staff said the projects are budgeted separately and the line items were not the same transaction.

Commissioner Book moved adoption of Resolution 2025-928; another commissioner seconded. The clerk called the roll and the commission recorded unanimous approval with Commissioner Duncan Walker absent. Mayor Harvey L. Ward Jr. declared the resolution adopted with immediate effect.

City staff also reported a near-term payroll/payout item would be processed by Finance, OMB and Procurement and then reflected in a December budget amendment. The meeting adjourned after brief closing comments.

The commission's action closes the FY25 budget cycle by aligning department appropriations with actuals and formalizing incoming grant awards; staff said the adjustments will prepare the city's financials for audit expected in spring 2026.