Finance committee approves budget amendments including $6.5M airport transfer and $500,000 for cardiac monitors

The Finance Committee voted April 20 to approve a package of budget amendments that includes a $6,505,600 transfer for airport improvements and a $500,000 increase in ambulance service fee revenue to purchase nine cardiac monitors for the fire department.

Chair opened the motion “to consider and pass the following items,” listing amendments numbered 23 through 37. The amendments recognized new revenue and increased expense lines across departments, including an $885,000 local option sales tax allocation for streets and roadways, $611,172 in TIF capital adjustments, $58,000 for Yonge Arena ice activities and $8,092 to recognize waterworks revenue for Office 365 software purchased by the MIS department.

The package also included smaller items such as $7,000 for Boathouse building maintenance, $3,500 in restricted donations for memorial benches and trees, $41,445 for motor vehicles and equipment for sanitation, $8,000 for library director relocation, $32,193 to address an emergency gas leak repair reported by the housing authority, and $10,000 for a Department of Transportation human trafficking grant to fund a domestic abuse response officer.

The motion was seconded and called for a voice vote; the chair announced the motion carries.

Why it matters: the airport transfer is the largest single item in the package and will move budgeted funds into airport improvement expense lines tied to prior resolutions referenced during the meeting. Smaller amendments adjust departmental budgets to recognize new or unbudgeted costs and grant awards.

The committee did not provide roll-call vote tallies on the record; the chair confirmed the motions passed during the meeting. The amendments will be implemented by finance and other departments in accordance with existing procedures and referenced resolutions.