Orrville finance director details $2.4M net reduction; council advances two appropriations measures

Orrville — The city advanced two budget measures at its Dec. 2 meeting as the finance director outlined adjustments that total a net $2,400,000 reduction to the current-year appropriations.

Director Sterling told council that the decrease reflects several changes, including a $1.5 million reduction tied to a property purchase in Baughman Township that did not proceed, a $300,000 increase to the wastewater utility reserve for a previously approved "jet back" truck, a $37,000 deposit added to an escrow account to return a fire-damaged property deposit, and roughly $15,000 in smaller adjustments to the EMS equipment fund and the cemetery maintenance fund.

The council voted to place Resolution 42-24 on second reading. Sterling said the adjustment package also moved funds between capital and general funds and reflected a mix of program- and project-level changes. "This is a change to the current year appropriations. Overall, this is a net decrease of $2,400,000," Sterling said.

Council also placed Resolution 43-24 on second reading. Sterling summarized the proposed appropriations for the first three months of 2025, saying, "Total appropriations are $68,100,000, $9,700,000 for the general funds, $7,400,000 for the remaining tax-supported funds and $51,000,000 for the utilities." No final votes on those appropriations were taken; both measures will return to council for further readings.

Why it matters: Appropriations adjustments change which projects and operations have immediate funding and can affect capital projects and utility reserves. Council members pressed no substantive objections on the floor Nov. 2 and allowed the measures to advance to the next reading.

Next steps: Both resolutions were placed on second reading and will return for additional consideration and potential final votes at future meetings.