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Vandalia council adopts emergency supplemental appropriations and transfers totaling several hundred thousand dollars
Summary
An emergency ordinance passed unanimously to increase appropriations and move funds for personnel, facility projects and early debt payoff, including $677,000 to pay bond anticipation notes on public safety apparatus and a FEMA grant transfer for the Robinette Park splash pad.
The Vandalia City Council on May 4 adopted Emergency Ordinance 26‑08 to revise 2026 appropriations and authorize transfers across multiple funds to cover personnel changes, capital needs and early debt payoff.
City Manager Kurt Althouse outlined the supplemental requests: • $125,427 to the general fund for court personnel to cover one deputy clerk, two part‑time bailiffs and a promoted team lead; • $106,550 transfer from the general fund to the Job Creation and Revitalization fund for economic development; • $107,105 transfer to the Facilities Improvement Reserve for building maintenance and debt service; • $677,000 transfer to the Police/Fire/Street fund to pay off bond anticipation notes tied to a ladder truck, fire engine and other apparatus; • $214,871.80 in FEMA special revenue funds transferred for the Robinette Park splash pad project; • smaller increases including $23,840 in CDBG for a senior center feasibility study, $25,000 for accessible curb ramps, $13,000 for emergency golf course pump repair, $8,650 for a municipal court website ADA upgrade, $15,550 for magistrate office furniture and $979.70 for steel targets for police training.
Althouse said proceeds from a recent land sale were applied to payoff of land acquisition notes related to the Stone Quarry Crossings property and that paying these obligations early will reduce future interest costs. Council discussed the court staffing request and the benefit of early debt retirement; a council member praised staff for identifying available funds to realize long‑term savings.
The ordinance was adopted as an emergency and passed 6–0. Because this was an emergency appropriation, city staff said the action was necessary to ensure continuity of court operations and to allow timely transfers and payments.
Council did not hold public comment on the item (no citizens came forward during the emergency ordinance public comment period). Staff will carry out the transfers and return to council with any follow‑up reporting required by city finance procedures.
