New Albany adopts 2025 budget with modest appropriations increases

The New Albany City Council on Tuesday adopted its 2025 appropriations ordinance, approving a package of adjustments the city said will fund department relocations, community programming and minor capital work.

City Finance Director Stotts told the council the ordinance incorporates about $456,000 in added appropriations since the first reading, including a $90,000 lease increase tied to relocating the community development and administrative services departments to a new Waters Edge facility, a $10,000 increase for police digital evidence storage, and a net $106,000 of increased community investment subfunds. "The proposed budget and the amended appropriations ordinance reflect the input of council at those meetings resulting in the addition of $456,000 in appropriations," Stotts said.

The ordinance also adds $250,000 to the capital improvement fund for municipal space planning and includes a $100,000 contingency appropriation for unexpected year-end needs. Stotts described mechanisms in the ordinance that authorize the finance director to transfer modest amounts between line items for day-to-day management, and a limited authorization to transfer up to $10,000 per quarter within the same department for operational flexibility.

Mayor Spalding praised the finance team's work, saying the city provides transparency on how tax dollars are spent and noting conservative fiscal stewardship under the city manager's direction. After a brief public hearing with no speakers, council closed the hearing and adopted Ordinance O45-20-24 by recorded vote (six yes votes).

The council set second readings and public hearings for related year-end and cooperative-agreement ordinances on Dec. 17. The budget ordinance takes effect according to the dates stated in the legislation.