MONEY MATTERS … Bryan City Council members, Stephen Alspaugh (left) and Mary Leatherman (right), discuss the ordinance regarding the annual appropriations for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, at a special council meeting on Monday, December 29.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
The Bryan City Council held a special meeting on Monday, December 29, approving an emergency ordinance for annual appropriations for the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2025.
The emergency annual appropriation ordinance was part of a financial adjustment in the wastewater treatment plant project.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, council members present were Mary Leatherman, John Betts, Stephen Alspaugh, Jim Kozumplik, and Richard Hupe.
Clerk-treasurer John Lehner reported the multi-million dollar project for the wastewater treatment plant, as the city had already budgeted the entire amount for it.
“We anticipate the full amount of loan revenue on the project,” said Lehner. “We draw down the loan as we pay the bills.
“Of course, the project is to be carried out in the new year. So, we’re not going to get roughly the six million dollars until next year.” He added that the state auditor doesn’t like it when the city has a bigger appropriation and the money the city would take in.
This action does two things: one is to lower the appropriation for the project, and the other is to lower the revenue for it.
“As soon as 2026 starts, I’ll come back to you (council) to reappropriate the money we’re taking out of the 2025 budget and set it up for the second half of that project,” said Lehner.
“It’s nothing more than accounting gymnastics to comply with the Ohio Revised Code.” Another item that was adjusted in the ordinance was $89.00, which will close out the probation grant fund.
The 2025 annual appropriations totaled $68,485,360.24. It includes the General Fund ($9,285,064.63), Special Revenue Fund ($14,091,252.14), Debt Service Fund ($126,606.50), Capital Projects Fund (3,351,000.00), Enterprise Fund ($37,956,437.57), Internal Service Fund ($3,670,000.00), and Expendable Trust Fund ($5,000.00).