Committee clears first reading of supplemental appropriation to fund wage adjustments, sets up TID 91 loan

The Legal and Finance Committee on Sept. 11 approved the first reading of ordinance 6,635, a supplemental appropriation that primarily provides budget authority for AFSCME and nonunion wage adjustments and establishes accounting for a TID 91 loan.

Finance staff told the committee that wage adjustments enacted earlier in the year — including AFSCME contractual increases and a July cost‑of‑living adjustment for union and nonunion staff — were not included in the original 2024 budget because they were under negotiation at the time. "The item in front of you for the next supplemental appropriation is primarily, includes the additional budgetary authority for the AFSCME and nonunion wage adjustments that went into effect this year," staff said.

Staff also described a technical action to set up the TID 91 fund with a loan amount of approximately $7,280,000, which accounts for the majority of the supplemental appropriation's dollar total. The package also carries forward several projects not completed in 2023 and transfers leftover airport funds to the airport capital improvement program to assist terminal expansion work.

A committee member asked whether the city had the funds on hand to make the appropriation; finance staff responded affirmatively. The committee approved the ordinance's first reading and will consider additional readings as required by the city's ordinance process.