City Commissioners Approve 2023 Budget Amendments Following Public Hearing

In a recent City Commission Meeting on Monday, Commisioners deliberated on the proposed amendments to the 2023 budget, necessitated by unforeseen factors impacting various city funds. The 2023 Annual Budget, initially adopted in September 2022, faced adjustments to accommodate increased expenditures.

To comply with Kansas state statutes, a formal public hearing was conducted on December 18, 2023, following a public notice published in the Salina Journal on December 8, 2023. This hearing addressed amendments to six city funds, and citizens were provided the opportunity to voice their opinions on the proposed changes.

The General Fund, with an initial budget of $46,204,068, saw potential overages mainly attributed to overtime expenses. Staff projections estimated a $600,000 budget shortfall by the end of 2023. To address this, a budget amendment of $600,000 was recommended, bringing the revised total budget to $46,804,068.

Similarly, the Arts and Humanities Fund, initially budgeted at $1,027,907, faced overages in salaries, overtime, and associated expenditures. A proposed increase of $45,000 was suggested, bringing the adjusted budget to $1,072,907.

The Tourism Fund experienced higher-than-expected collections from Transient Guest Tax, resulting in a $330,000 budget increase, totaling $2,380,417. The Special Alcohol Fund and Solid Waste Fund also required adjustments of $50,000 and $700,000, respectively, to cover unanticipated expenditures.

The Golf Course Fund, facing unexpected repair costs and other expenses, recommended a budget increase of $90,000, setting the new total at $955,769.

Following the public hearing and deliberations, the proposed budget amendments were approved by a 4-0 vote. Commissioner Lenkiewicz was absent from the meeting.