Council committee forwards omnibus budget amendment that adds grants, staff transfers and sewer reimbursements

Don presented Budget Amendment No. 6 and said it includes several adjustments: (1) recognize a $10,000 Illinois Arts Council grant; (2) transfer $15,000 from salary savings to planning consulting while the principal planner position is vacant; (3) transfer salary savings to cover an IT division office renovation (estimated $55,000); (4) reallocate MFT line items to support the Florida Avenue project; and (5) increase the sanitary sewer lateral reimbursement program by $50,000 after the program spent most of its annual budget.

Staff said the amendment results in no net impact to the general fund because many changes are internal transfers; the sanitary sewer fund ending balance will be reduced to reflect the additional $50,000 outlay. Councilors asked for a brief five‑sentence scope of the IT renovation and confirmation that lateral-reimbursement applicants must pay up front and file for reimbursement; staff answered that the IT work will replace flooring, update furniture and reconfigure an office wall and that the reimbursement program remains a pay-upfront/seek-reimbursement structure.

The committee voted to forward the ordinance revising the annual budget (Budget Amendment No. 6) to City Council for final consideration.