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City presents $1.59 billion first revised appropriation; airport funding, preschool promise and golf adjustments highlighted
Summary
City finance director Abby Patel Jones presented a first reading of Dayton’s 2026 first revised appropriation totaling about $1.59 billion, explaining an $83.1 million increase largely tied to grants and capital investments; commissioners asked follow-up questions about the golf fund and Key Bank Tower holding costs.
Abby Patel Jones, the city’s director of management and budget, presented the first reading of the 2026 first revised appropriation on May 20. She said the proposed total appropriation is approximately $1.59 billion — an increase of about $83.1 million from the original 2026 budget — and that the majority of the adjustment stems from new grant funding and capital investments across multiple funds.
Patel Jones outlined key general-fund adjustments: a $5,000 allocation tied to a 100 Club grant for the fire department; a $47,500 payment for a delayed parking lease at 417 Webster Street near Day Air Ballpark; $92,000 in the general fund to cover a temporary central business district police substation lease; and $360,000 to cover property taxes, utilities, maintenance and security tied to the city assuming responsibility for 10 West Second Street (the Key Bank Tower). The director also requested $30,000 for the commission office to fund professional services related to an audit of Flock camera data logs.
On special projects, Patel Jones described a $192,900 adjustment to the community golf fund that includes $32,900 for a golf simulator and $160,000 for renovation of the golf maintenance building; she also detailed a roughly $1.1 million re‑encumbrance to restore preschool promise budget items that were liquidated from unspent 2025 encumbrances while noting the preschool program’s annual allocation remains $4.3 million.
Enterprise and capital funds also saw adjustments: aviation operating increases of about $365,800 for maintenance and passenger-processing system technology, with aviation nonoperating reflecting an additional $78.8 million tied to an All Ohio Future grant/loan for large‑scale infrastructure at Dayton International Airport; the sewer fund rose roughly $925,000 to replace equipment determined to be beyond repair; and internal service funds showed increases to support expanded physical-therapy and behavioral-health services for employees.
Commissioners pressed for clarifications. Commissioner Beckham questioned whether the community-golf fund remains an enterprise fund and whether a $50,000 youth-transfer policy is adequate; staff explained the golf operation’s evolution from an enterprise-type model and said a $50,000 annual transfer supports youth programming. Commissioner Joseph and Deputy City Manager Parlet outlined the Key Bank Tower costs as holding/operating expenses based on prior lease obligations; Patel Jones said the figures are based on past trends and include property taxes, utilities, waste collection and security.
The presentation was recorded as the first reading. Staff said they would return with any required follow-up detail and that the appropriation adjustments largely reflect the timing of grant awards and capital projects rather than a permanent increase to recurring service levels.
Sources: Presentation by Abby Patel Jones, Q&A with Commissioners Beckham and Joseph, and exchanges with Deputy City Manager Parlet during the May 20 meeting.
