Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves budget amendment to add missing street‑lights line; suspends rules for immediate enactment
Summary
City council adopted Ordinance 2026-02 (annual appropriation amendment) after a staff member acknowledged an omitted budget line for street lights. Council confirmed funding exists in cash reserves, discussed plans to pursue LED/smart bulb conversions, then unanimously suspended the rules and adopted the ordinance immediately.
Wooster City Council approved Ordinance 2026-02 on Jan. 5 to amend the annual appropriation ordinance and allow immediate enactment after city staff acknowledged an omitted budget line for street‑lights.
During the discussion a staff member identified by colleagues as Mister Doherty acknowledged the omission and apologized: "I messed it up," he said. Council members asked where the money would come from; administration staff said the dollars were technically accounted for in the budget's bottom line (days in cash and cash reserves near the cap) and that the adjustment will be reflected in the appropriation ordinance. Council also discussed a long-term, multi‑year project with AEP to install LED fixtures and smart lighting to reduce annual costs.
A motion to suspend the rules was moved, seconded, and approved by roll-call vote (all present council members responded yes). The council then moved to adopt Ordinance 2026-02; the roll-call adoption was unanimous among members present. The ordinance will explicitly add the street‑lights appropriation line that had been omitted from the originally published budget.
