Tipp City Council adopts fall budget adjustments, advances $500,000 for sewer cash flow

TIPP CITY, Ohio — Tipp City Council on Monday approved an ordinance adjusting the city’s 2024 budget to account for unexpected costs and revenues, including a $500,000 advance to the sewer fund to maintain cash flow during a $5 million sewer project. City Manager/Finance Director Ryan Green told council the advance would be repaid when the Ohio Water Development Authority reimbursement comes through.

Green said the fall appropriations ordinance responds to higher-than-usual tax refunds, newly authorized police positions (including safety resource officers), and additional overtime in the fire department after a work-related injury. He also listed department-level increases for finance, utilities, engineering and parks.

Resident Abby Bowling questioned several parts of the ordinance, calling some movements between funds “kinda like a shell game to me,” and asked whether the pool fund transfer and TIF/CRA revenue sharing were clear. Green replied that additional pool concession sales increased revenue but that unanticipated maintenance and equipment costs required a transfer; he said section 3’s $50,000 transfer is a “not to exceed” figure likely closer to $20,000 once year-end numbers are finalized.

Councilors acknowledged concerns about rising salary costs but supported the appropriations as necessary to keep the city operating without returning to taxpayers. The clerk conducted a roll call and the ordinance passed by unanimous vote.

What happens next: The appropriation changes were adopted immediately as a second-reading ordinance and will be reflected in the city’s accounting entries; the $500,000 sewer advance is expected to be repaid next year after OWDA reimbursement.