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Mount Rainier council adopts budget amendment to fund Potts Hall, solar and park projects
Summary
The Mount Rainier mayor and council unanimously adopted Ordinance 03-2025 (Budget Amendment No. 2) on June 3, reallocating $1.5 million from fund balance for Potts Hall and increasing several grant-funded line items including ARPA and MEA solar projects.
The Mount Rainier mayor and city council unanimously approved Ordinance 03-2025 (Budget Amendment No. 2) at their June 3 virtual meeting, reallocating grant revenue and fund-balance dollars to cover rising project costs and building repairs.
Mayor Constance opened discussion of the second reading of the ordinance and noted the amendment moves grant funds and uses fund balance where needed to meet current demand. Ron, the city's financial consultant, read the line-item adjustments in detail: a $1.5 million use of fund balance for Potts Hall, revising that project budget to roughly $2.5 million; an increase of $330,000 in ARPA revenue; a $422,000 increase for MEA solar panels for city buildings; and multiple DHCD, county and park grant increases, including $105,726 for Richardson Park and $750,000 in state capital funds for Potts Hall.
Financial consultant Ron said the city will have about $5.8 million in fund balance after the Potts Hall allocation and that $4.9 million of that is invested in short-duration instruments that are highly liquid. "Fund balance is strictly the difference between all of our assets and all of our liabilities," Ron said, adding that the investments are accessible within "a day or two by wire transfer."
Councilmember Joseph thanked staff for winning grant funds but pressed for clarification on liquidity; Mr. Kamali and Ron confirmed the accounts are readily accessible in the Maryland Local Government Investment Program. After discussion the mayor moved to adopt the ordinance; following a second and no objections, the council passed the measure by unanimous vote.
The ordinance reallocates multiple revenue and expense lines to align the fiscal 2025 budget with newly awarded grants and planned capital work, and authorizes using fund balance for Potts Hall and building maintenance. The council did not record individual roll-call votes in the meeting transcript; the item passed by unanimous consensus.
The council indicated staff will finalize minor language changes in the ordinance document before signature and proceed with the funded projects.
