Council creates facility‑maintenance reserve and directs surplus library credit there

DeFuniak Springs — The City Council on March 9 voted to place roughly $43,000 in contract credits from the Walton Phoenix Library construction project into a newly created facility‑maintenance reserve account, following a lengthy debate over whether some of the funds should be issued as one‑time grants to local athletic organizations.

City manager Kobe Townson explained the credit amounted to just under $43,000 and recommended creating a labeled reserve so future withdrawals would require council approval. Councilmember Towns proposed instead splitting the credit: $20,000 to be used as one‑time grants to the DeFuniak Springs Little League and the Walton County Athletic League and the remainder for building maintenance. Supporters of that idea argued leagues face rising equipment and maintenance costs.

Other council members urged caution and prioritized building emergency reserves and addressing the city's own deferred infrastructure needs, noting ongoing projects such as the community center and aging sewer and water systems. One member suggested the private sector already donates to the leagues, and another councilmember said maintenance reserves would make it easier to fund roofs, HVAC units and urgent repairs without raiding the unrestricted fund balance.

After debate the council substituted and approved the city manager’s recommendation to create a facility‑maintenance reserve and deposit the library contract credit there. Staff clarified that funds in the new account would remain restricted to facility maintenance and would require a council vote to be spent.

What happens next: Staff will create the facility‑maintenance reserve account and post the $43,000 credit there; any future withdrawals will require explicit council authorization.