Council shifts budgeted arborist salary funds into village tree operating account

Council member LeMay introduced a resolution asking the council to revise the 2024 appropriation budget to move funds that had been allocated for an arborist — salary, retirement and medical — into the village tree operating fund. "When we did the budget in 2023 for this year, we had an arborist. We don't have an arborist any longer. So we're shifting the money from salary retirement medical into... the operating under the tree fund," LeMay said.

The motion was seconded and members recorded affirmative votes; the council adopted the resolution and also voted to adopt it as an emergency. Councilors clarified that funds will remain within the tree account and will be used for tree-related operations rather than general fund purposes. The meeting transcript did not specify dollar amounts or line-item details.

The resolution empowers the chief fiscal officer to revise 2024 appropriations to reflect the transfer; no additional spending items or new hires were announced at the meeting.