Finance and Budget Committee approves $1.32 million expenditure list, clears multiple budget transfers

The Butte City Finance and Budget Committee voted March 11 to approve an expenditure list dated the same day in the amount of $1,318,561.66 and to authorize a series of budget transfers covering public-safety equipment, community events and personnel costs.

Commissioner O'Neal moved to approve the expenditure list; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote, after the clerk clarified the figure as "$1,318,561.66." The transcript does not record a roll-call tally.

During review of the expenditure list, Commissioner Walker questioned an item described simply as "the windows." A staff member explained, "That is a CDBG grant. That is um a federal grant. Um I think that this is finishing up the Aspen Place Apartments. they they had quite I think their grant was for a total of 700 or $750,000 and so this is wrapping coming close to wrapping that project up." The committee recorded the explanation and moved on without further questions.

Staff then presented several budget transfers for committee approval. Two related transfers reclassify non-capital fixed-asset amounts for network switches: one (approximately $15,000) for the sheriff's detention center and another (about $15,500) for 911, both described as the same network equipment but budgeted in separate departmental accounts.

Smaller transfers included $475 from RMAP to pay remaining RMAP advertisements; a transfer listed as "252" to cover family-services booth rental at the Coverlight Players Pride show (the transcript does not clearly state whether that amount is $252 or another figure); and a $9,200 transfer to cover printing and duplicating costs, including production of 2026 cart stickers.

Personnel and program transfers included moves to cover negative balances in payroll and personnel lines so staffing needs are met through the period noted in the transcript, $6,810 to pay volleyball referees and fitness instructors and to cover volleyball standards for the new civic center floor, and $2,500 to register Sean Frederickson for the parks and recreation director school. Another $2,500 was listed to cover employer contributions related to greenway-trails work charged to public works.

Staff also requested a $1,700 transfer to purchase a replacement laptop for the cemetery manager after the prior unit failed and was not on the IT replacement list.

One item in the transcript was unclear: a $1,600 entry referencing "super fund ARCO" and an AED required by the safety officer included garbled wording in the recording, so the precise purpose and target account were not determinable from the meeting record.

With no further questions, the committee adjourned.

The committee did not record detailed vote tallies in the transcript for the expenditure-list motion; any staff follow-up reports or published minutes should be checked for formal roll-call results and clarifications on items transcribed imprecisely.