Council urges full recognition of two economic development grants; staff cited multi-year timing

Seat Pleasant ' Economic development budget questions centered on two recently awarded reimbursable grants and whether the FY27 budget should reflect the full awards.

Economic development staff said grant account 6204 was awarded $180,000 and account 6205 $200,000 (both multi-year). Budget staff reduced the FY27 appropriation for those lines on the basis that parts of the awards would be spent in FY26 and that projected FY27 spending would be lower. Several councilmembers pressed to list the full award amounts in FY27 to reflect actual revenues and to avoid confusion about where unobligated balances would appear.

Council members also flagged that the economic development director position was listed as a coordinator and suggested the salary be raised to attract and retain a qualified director. Ms. Rhoda said the positions and grant splits will be refined; councilors urged clarity on whether reimbursable grants are recorded as revenue when award letters exist.

Council asked staff to: show where the full grant awards are recorded (revenue recognition), clarify FY26 vs. FY27 anticipated expenditures for each grant, and consider putting the full award amounts in FY27 budget documents while noting multi-year expenditure timing.

No formal appropriation changes were made at the session; staff will return with reconciled revenue and expenditure schedules for the grants.