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Council weighs $200,000 in technology upgrades and multiple facility projects as budget season begins
Summary
City staff reported more than $200,000 in technology spending this year and roughly $250,000 in facility improvements across municipal buildings; councilors pressed for clearer budget line items, earlier packet distribution, and a five‑year IT/CIP planning approach as staff prepares budget workshops.
City Manager Charles West and department staff briefed the council on recent facility and technology expenditures and on near‑term budget planning. West said the city has spent more than $200,000 on technology this budget year (desktop replacement, cybersecurity and other systems) and roughly $250,000 on building upgrades across city hall, the library, police department and pool — costs funded from reallocated line items and internal savings rather than new appropriations.
Councilors praised needed maintenance but urged clearer budgeting and visible line items for capital improvements. "I'd much rather see all of these things listed as line items in the budget... than say, we just found the money and we did it," Councillor Benefield said, pressing for transparency. Councillor Prince asked for a single budget workshop session in July to finalize the draft budget by the charter deadline; staff said they will schedule sessions and provide a demonstration of the budget tool at the July 2 meeting.
Concerns also included staff workspace and long‑range facility needs: staff proposed modest office reconfigurations (removing a partition to improve workstation spacing) and ramping up digitization to reduce physical storage. Mayor Pro Tem recommended a five‑year IT plan to avoid large, sudden replacement cycles. Staff said it will bring proposed budget amendments and a clearer CIP exhibit showing how capital projects are funded and tracked.
The council asked staff to provide dates for a budget workshop and to include monthly financial statements beginning with the second meeting in July so council can review revenues and expenditures regularly.
