Committee recommends FY27 budget amendment transferring funds for utilities, election costs and equipment

Rick Gentry, the city's budget manager, presented TMP 3731 as a second amendment to the fiscal-year 2027 budget and described a package of transfers and reallocations designed to align spending authority with operational needs. He said the city is "moving the spending authority from the finance department for those 2 positions over to the development services budget" as two treasury cashier positions are consolidated into customer-service roles, "so that's a non increase to the budget, just simply moving from 1 department to another department."

Gentry detailed additional items: a $139,620 transfer from the water and sewer operating fund into the vehicle-equipment-replacement fund to allow the fleet to order an additional dump truck and snow-plow package; a requested $50,000 increase in the stormwater-utility fund to cover unexpectedly high election administration and mailer costs; and a $44,500 authorization in the public-safety equipment-replacement fund to replace an end-of-life bomb technician suit and helmet. On the stormwater-election overrun Gentry said the primary driver "was the main thing that threw us over the 100,000" — county administration costs from Jackson County and additional Cass County charges.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about whether the $11.9 million transfer discussed was new spending; Gentry clarified it was an accounting transfer of funds already earmarked for CIP projects, not a net addition to the city's budget. After discussion, the committee moved and seconded a recommendation that TMP 3731 be sent to full council with a recommendation of approval; roll-call votes were recorded and the motion passed.