Dayton adopts final 2025 appropriations as emergency, authorizes $2.3 million net increase

The Dayton City Commission approved the final revised appropriation for 2025 on first reading as an emergency, authorizing a net increase of $2,300,000 (about 0.2 percent) compared with the second revised appropriation.

Abby Patel Jones, management and budget director, told the commission the final revision reflects a net general fund decrease of $78,000 driven by organization-wide budget management and vacancy savings, but includes targeted increases for frontline services. "This is the third and the final revised appropriation — a net increase of $2,300,000 or 0.2% when compared to the second revised appropriation," Patel Jones said during her presentation.

Personnel changes produce a net personnel decrease of $295,400 overall, the presentation said, while the police personnel budget increases by $1,400,000 and fire personnel by $1,200,000. Patel Jones attributed the police increase to wage adjustments, earlier-than-expected recruit graduations and overtime; the fire increase largely covers overtime to meet minimum staffing requirements. Centralized vacancy savings of $1,800,000 were already budgeted and are being used to fill some gaps and support these adjustments.

The budget also shifts $520,000 from the general fund to the capital fund to address vehicle and equipment needs for police, fire and planning, and includes a $200,000 transfer to the community paramedicine program. Patel Jones said an adjustment of roughly $117,000 was recorded to reconcile prior-year home-fund expenditures later deemed ineligible under HUD rules. Additional increases cited included about $100,000 in fire contracts and materials (about $30,000 for fleet repair and $70,000 for electricity) and roughly $195,000 for public-works fleet and electricity costs.

City officials said passing the final revised appropriation as an emergency allows the city to use more up-to-date payroll information and reduce estimation error at year-end. The commission moved and seconded the city manager's recommendations and voted to approve the package on a voice vote.

What happens next: the ordinance was presented as an emergency so it may take effect immediately following the second reading; staff and the finance office will carry out the transfers and adjustments described in the budget presentation.

Votes and formal actions: the commission approved the city manager's recommendations and moved for immediate passage of emergency ordinance number 32172-25 as recorded in the meeting minutes. Specific vote tallies were recorded as unanimous voice votes in the meeting (ayes recorded).