Hamilton officials outline 2025 budget plan, propose 4% wage adjustment and supplemental transfers

Finance Director Dave Jones presented the city’s proposed 2025 budget and related supplemental appropriations, saying the city is “staying conservative” while projecting $36,000,000 in income-tax revenue for 2025 and keeping the general fund structurally balanced. He outlined a proposed across‑the‑board 4% wage adjustment for Schedule A employees (cost listed in presentation as about $676,000) and a 2.6% annual lump-sum payment for eligible employees.

Jones described the fifth supplemental appropriation for 2024, including a $2,000,000 transfer into the budget stabilization fund tied to anticipated development at 20 High Street, $275,000 in general fund expenses, a $75,000 annual payment for public‑safety cameras, and a $1,000,000 reduction in general fund line items supported by a brownfield remediation grant. He told council that recent bond pricing came in with a 3.08% yield and said that oversubscription by institutional investors trimmed the city’s cost of borrowing, saving roughly $465,000 relative to prior estimates.

Jones said public safety (police and fire) consumes close to two‑thirds of general fund expenses and that the proposed all‑funds 2025 budget totals about $419.7 million, up nearly 9.5% from 2024. He noted planned transfers to infrastructure funds — including just over $1.1 million to support street paving — and highlighted capital items such as intersection upgrades and resurfacing projects. He also said the city received multiple awards and recognitions for its budget and financial reporting.

Council did not adopt the 2025 appropriations ordinance at this meeting (first reading and public hearing occurred). The public hearing on the budget was held and closed; council instructed staff to return legislation for future consideration and vote.