The Jackson City Council on Dec. 1 reviewed several budget amendments to recognize state and federal grant funds and reallocate existing budget lines.

On first reading, staff presented proposed budget amendment No. 39 to recognize and appropriate $1,553,206.60 as a state pass-through for 6k Energy, described by staff as part of a state incentive package that the city will forward to the company. On a separate first-reading item, staff introduced amendment No. 40 to recognize and appropriate $1,500,000 from the OCJIP Violent Crime Intervention Fund (VCIF). "This grant will be used mainly for the purpose of equipment," staff said, while noting that final contract terms were still under negotiation and that the packet contains a breakdown of permissible uses.

Councilors pressed staff on restrictions and whether grant dollars could offset previously budgeted items. Staff said the VCIF award is 100% grant funding and that some items could replace money originally budgeted elsewhere, but added that the formal contract is still being finalized.

On a separate item, council considered amendment No. 46 to reallocate $89,396 to outfit newly purchased police patrol vehicles. Staff said the reallocation covers the final outfitting needed to put newly purchased vehicles on the road and confirmed a total of 18 vehicles would be outfitted, with four others possibly not receiving outfitting under the current plan.

At second reading, the council considered budget amendment No. 30, recognizing $13,856.16 in insurance recovery for the fire department, and No. 31, recognizing and appropriating $69,000 in a state and local cybersecurity grant to be split between the city's IT department and the police department. Councilors also discussed amendment No. 36, reallocating $285,390.90 for a vehicle-leasing program. Staff described the vehicle-leasing proposal as budget-neutral and said the city can terminate the program; if vehicles are returned on termination the city’s primary obligation would be to replace any returned vehicles needed for service.

Councilors sought clarity on potential obligations if the city exited a vehicle lease early. Staff responded that returning leased vehicles is the primary action required and that the city retains equity/maintenance considerations but is not locked into a minimum volume. "If as long as you return the vehicle, there's no additional cost," staff said in response to a council question, while warning that the city would need to replace returned vehicles if it still required them.

No roll-call votes or final tallies were recorded in the transcript for the items covered.

What happens next: Several items were at first or second reading and require further action or formal adoption at subsequent meetings; staff said final contracts and award letters will be circulated when available.