Hamilton City Council approves nearly $1 million in budget amendments

The Hamilton City Council approved nearly $1 million in amendments for the 2024-2025 annual fiscal year budget to eliminate year end overdrafts.

The amendments approved at their March 17 meeting include $941,232 for the Ravalli Street project and $30,000 for a police car that was purchased and not originally budgeted for.

The Ravalli Street project was completed in 2025. City of Hamilton Financial Administrator Craig Shepherd said in the meeting they have the money for the project and with the budget amendment resolution approved it will be given to the auditors.

"This particular budget amendment came up as a result of the audit, kind of more of an embarrassment on the magnitude of the amount of this," Shepherd said.

"The Ravalli Street project moved along better than projected towards completion and this large budget shortage was inadvertently omitted from the previous budget amendments," the agenda packet for the city council meeting documents states.

Originally the Multi Purpose Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) budgeted $500,000 for highways, streets and improvements. The amendment of $941,232 brings the total budget for the project to $1,441,232.

The $30,000 budget amendment according to documents is the transfer of money for a police car that was purchased and not originally budgeted for. The original budgeted amount for transfers from the general fund was $85,000. With the new budget amendment, it brings the total to $115,000. 

"Originally there was a budgeted transfer from the General Fund to the 4509 Police CIP fund, and this was changed to enhance the cash flow of the General Fund, and an alternate fund was used instead," according to the city council meeting agenda packet.

Click below to view the agenda packet for Tuesday March 17.