City Commissioners, during Monday's City Commission Meeting, deliberated on the approval of the Notice of Budget Hearing for the amended 2023 budget. The proposed budget amendments, necessitated by unforeseen expenses and revenue variations, are slated for a public hearing on December 18, 2023.
The State of Kansas mandates municipalities to adopt balanced budgets for all funds, outlining expenditure authority. The initial 2023 budget for the City of Salina was endorsed on September 19, 2022. Pursuant to K.S.A. 79-2929a, municipalities have the authority to amend budgets when actual expenditures surpass the initially submitted budget, irrespective of revenue surpluses.
To comply with Kansas state statutes, a formal public hearing on the proposed amended budget is required, with a public notice to be published at least 10 days before the hearing date. The Notice of Budget Hearing will detail the date, time, and location of the hearings, along with the maximum limits of the 2023 amended budget.
City staff routinely monitors monthly budget-to-actual expenditures, with an annual review prompting budget amendments when necessary. For 2023, the General Fund, Arts and Humanities Fund, Tourism Fund, Special Alcohol Fund, Solid Waste Fund, and Golf Fund have been identified for potential amended budgets.
In the case of the General Fund, overages, particularly in Public Safety sectors, have led to a projected $600,000 budget shortfall. Consequently, staff recommends a budget amendment to cover this gap, bringing the total budgeted expenditures to $46,804,068.
Similarly, the Arts and Humanities Fund, Tourism Fund, Special Alcohol Fund, Solid Waste Fund, and Golf Course Fund require budget adjustments due to various unforeseen expenses. Proposed amendments for each fund range from $45,000 to $700,000.
A comprehensive fiscal note outlines the recommended amendments, with staff committed to a final review before the public hearing on December 18, 2023. While costs may not increase after publication, reductions are possible. The motion to authorize the Notice of Budget Hearing for the 2023 Amended Budget was unanimously approved, setting the stage for the upcoming public hearing.
