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Monroe council introduces amended FY2025–26 operating budget with major line-item changes
Summary
At its March 18 special session, the Monroe City Council introduced an ordinance to adopt the FY2025–26 operating budget with a set of amendments led by Chairman Juanita G. Woods, including substantial increases to certain salary, pension and repairs lines and a $100,000 transfer to SEDD; introductions were approved for final adoption subject to charter deadlines and mayoral action.
Chairman Juanita G. Woods moved on March 18, 2025, that the Monroe City Council introduce an ordinance amending the fiscal year 2025–26 operating budget submitted by the mayor, proposing multiple line-item adjustments and directing that all affected budget summaries and totals be updated to reflect the amendments prior to final adoption.
The proposed amendments, offered by Woods during the ordinance-introduction phase, included increases across General Fund and special revenue fund lines: education & training from $2,500 to $10,000; legal and professional services from $40,000 to $70,000; audit expense from $140,000 to $160,000; advertising from $50,000 to $55,000; travel from $35,000 to $50,000; multiple adjustments to pension and payroll-related lines; a change to salaries & wages – regular from $132,465 to $455,465 on one listed line; group insurance and payroll taxes increases; an increase in repairs & maintenance on one line from $5,000 to $500,000; and an inserted transfer-out line reading "transfer out SEDD $100,000." Woods also proposed changes in a Special Revenue Fund that reduced some regular salary and insurance lines while increasing construction cost from $5,000,000 to $5,450,000 and adding a $100,000 transfer on that fund schedule.
Council members moved and seconded introduction motions and the council approved the ordinance introductions. The record shows Mrs. Ezernack cast a Nay on both the motion to introduce the amendment package and on the subsequent motion to introduce the operating budget as amended; other members voted in favor. The introductions mean the measures will proceed toward final adoption; the council specified that totals be adjusted "subject to final adoption, mayoral veto, and veto overrides."
The amendment package was presented as adjustments to the mayor's proposed budget filed Jan. 30, 2025. No members of the public spoke during the meeting. The council did not take final adoption votes at the March 18 meeting; the city attorney noted, and the council acknowledged, that charter and procedural deadlines remain in force as the measures move toward formal adoption.
The council's next steps include refinement of the amended budget calculations and scheduling for final action consistent with the charter and the mayoral review period.
