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Council OKs $50,000 budget amendment to cover generator fuel
Summary
Newton City Council approved a $50,000 budget ordinance amendment to fund additional generator fuel after higher fuel costs, increased storms and line‑item reductions left the fuel account depleted; staff said generators save roughly $325,000 annually through peak shaving.
Newton City Council on May 17 unanimously approved a $50,000 budget ordinance amendment to cover additional generator fuel purchases, Public Works and Utilities Director Dusty Wentz reported.
Wentz said each public‑works division tracks fuel costs separately and that electric‑fund generators run for peak shaving and storm avoidance. He told council that peak shaving is a staff decision and helps the city avoid about $325,000 in purchased power expense each year, while storm‑avoidance operation is billed to the industry hosting the generator.
Because of a prior line‑item reduction, higher fuel prices and a busy storm season, Wentz said the generator fuel line item was depleted. He told council the requested $50,000 amendment is slightly higher than staff’s projection but provides a reasonable chance the fund will hold through the end of June.
Council moved and seconded the budget ordinance amendment and approved it unanimously. The transcript records no alternate funding source proposed during the meeting.
