Burton Council amends FY2025-26 budget to add $165,000 for fire/sculpture project; attorney bill and resolutions approved

The Burton City Council approved an amendment to the FY2025-26 budget to add $165,000 to a fire/sculpture fund and decreased the general operating fund by the same amount, council records show.

Vice President Hall moved the budget amendment, supported by Councilwoman Hixson; the motion passed on a roll-call vote with all members recorded as voting yes. The amendment followed council discussion about project estimates: Chief Wilkerson reported the statues were already made and that remaining costs would be covered by the amendment. Councilman Heffner had proposed increasing the allocation from $150,000 to $165,000 and said the city had received marijuana-related revenue that made the larger appropriation feasible.

The council also approved an attorney billing from Miller Johnson in the amount of $4,124 (moved by Councilman Wines and supported by Councilwoman Hixson), adopted budget resolution 2025-10 (moved by Vice President Hall) and approved tax millage resolution 2025-11 (moved by Councilman Heffner). Each action was approved by roll-call vote with the members recorded as voting yes.

During debate on the sculpture funding, council members referenced marijuana revenue receipts in the city’s general fund; a council member said the city had received "almost $600,000" in marijuana money and referenced "$400,000" in the same exchange. The transcript does not provide a complete accounting or specify how much of that revenue is unrestricted for this purpose.

The council did not take final action on construction or contracts for the project at this meeting; the vote concerned only the budget allocation.