After approving a 2023-2024 biennial budget amendment last December, the Centralia City Council unanimously approved a fourth amendment to the budget on first reading during its regular meeting last week.
The ordinance establishing the budget amendment will undergo its second and final reading for approval at the Centralia City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 23.
The amendment was made to account for new budget appropriations stemming from previously approved council action, new proposals and moving expenditure authority from 2023 to 2024, Centralia Finance Director Bret Broderson stated.
Additionally, new revenue sources along with unspent 2023 expenditure authority needed to be accounted for and money moved from 2023 fund authority to 2024 fund authority.
“(It) looks like it’s a lot of money, but it really is increasing expenditures by $433,000 overall,” Broderson said.
Across all funds, Centralia’s biennial budget is increasing from $154,363,222 to $155,236,281.
In total, appropriations among all biennial budget funds will increase by $433,307, according to the council’s meeting agenda report.
New revenue sources include a $150,000 Washington state Department of Commerce grant, a $4,000 Washington state Recreation and Conservation Office grant, a $9,215 Washington State Patrol grant and $159,400 in unspent 2023 expenditure authority.
Additionally, unspent 2023 funds for capital projects, along with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds totaling $11,614,130, will be added to the 2024 authorities without increasing the overall biennial budget authority.
Some of the expenses accounted for in this budget amendment include:
• $24,500 for the ongoing city manager recruitment process
• $82,830 for city Finance Department audit costs
• $9,500 for Mural Parking Lot improvements
• $9,251 for new fingerprint equipment
• $5,000 for the youth enrichment services program
• $46,091 for city Parks Department salary increases
• $4,000 for an environmental assessment
The Building Maintenance Department saw an increase of $7,028 to the city’s depot fund, and the Centralia Police Department moved $5,979 in unspent K9 grant funds into the 2024 K9 program to be spent.
Other increases included:
• $3,500 for Americans with Disabilities Act compliant parking spaces at various city parks
• $7,028 for an HVAC software upgrade
• $3,500 increase in the Fireman’s Pension Fund
For more information and to view the budget amendment ordinance itself, go to page 46 of the Centralia City Council April 9 meeting agenda here https://tinyurl.com/2tt3hs2f.
