The Tupelo City Council approved Budget Amendment No. 7 for fiscal year 2025, citing higher-than-expected costs in several departments and making transfers to maintain operational flexibility.

Kim (staff) described the amendment during the routine agenda, saying the council could later amend the budget one more time after July 1 and calling this package “housekeeping.” Kim said the proposed increases include $300,000 for the police department to cover liability insurance and prisoner care, and a total amendment request of $357,007.97 funded by increased forfeiture receipts and interest income and by returning $200,000 from unallocated capital funds.

Kim said the city would also accept a $13,375 donation from the Tupelo Sports Council to purchase a backup scoreboard for the aquatic facility and would transfer $150,000 within capital and infrastructure funds from the blight fund for capital purchases related to property acquisition efforts.

Council members asked whether the $200,000 unallocated balance was tied to specific projects; Kim said it was from prior-year excess revenues and could be transferred back into the capital plan if unspent.

The council moved and seconded the amendment and approved it by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript. The amendment was described as intended to preserve flexibility for possible expenditures later in the fiscal year.