The Springfield City Finance Committee on Monday reviewed the city’s October budget‑to‑actual report and agreed to forward several free‑cash allocations to the full City Council for final approval.

Pat, a budget staffer presenting the monthly update, said: “This revenue is at 386,600,000.0 or 38% of budget. Our expenditures through the first 4 months are at 423,500,000.0 or 42% of budget.” Pat told the committee that timing — including a front‑loaded pension payment and quarterly tax billing — is affecting the percentage comparisons to a 33% benchmark.

Committee members discussed that revenues are slightly ahead of last year while expenditures are also running a bit higher; Pat noted last year’s revenue through the same period was about $350,300,000 (37% of budget) and expenditures were $376,600,000 (40%).

On free cash, staff outlined the annual practice of allocating 10% of certified free cash to the pension reserve and 10% to the OPEB (Other Post‑Employment Benefits) trust. Kathy said approving the proposed transfers would increase the pension reserve to about $19,300,000. Committee members discussed that the pension reserve has in the past been used to help balance the budget and to provide temporary tax relief when needed.

The committee also reviewed a remaining COVID‑19 deficit (Fund 19‑05) of $2,125,100.28 that staff said the city had hoped to recover from FEMA and MEMA but can no longer appeal; staff recommended funding the balance from free cash.

A separate police request to fund overtime for an address‑verification program to check addresses reported by registered offenders was discussed but excluded from the committee motion advancing items to full council.

Councilor Steve Bono moved to forward items 5 through 12, except item 7, to the City Council; Tim Allen seconded and the motion carried with the mover and chair voicing aye. Staff noted that grants under $100,000 approved by the finance committee are automatically approved without full council action. Final votes and any required appropriations will occur at the full City Council meeting later that evening.