Mentor council approves ordinance 25-0-022 to shift and advance funds, declares emergency

Mentor City Council approved Ordinance 25‑0‑022 on March 4, 2025, authorizing several permanent cash transfers between city funds, incorporating approximately $1,100,000 in temporary cash advances from the general fund to capital project funds, and declaring an emergency so the changes take effect immediately.

The ordinance was introduced by the city administration and explained in detail by Finance Director John Malinowski, who told council the measure has three sections. "Section 1 authorizes several permanent cash transfers between various funds," Malinowski said, adding that those transfers were planned and appropriated in the current fiscal-year budget. He said Section 2 "incorporates approximately $1,100,000 of temporary cash advances from the city's general fund to capital project funds." Malinowski also noted a correction in Section 3: two typographical errors in senior-levy fund numbers were amended so the listed fund range should read "1 to 9," not "1 to 4." He recommended approval "as amended."

Council moved to amend and then to suspend the rules so the ordinance could take effect immediately. The final vote on the ordinance as amended was recorded by roll call and passed by council. The finance director framed the changes as bookkeeping and appropriation adjustments tied to the city’s previously adopted budget rather than new policy or programmatic changes.

The ordinance's emergency language means the appropriations and temporary advances take effect at the earliest time allowed by law and were applied to capital projects specified in the city’s budget documents. The council did not attach any follow-up reporting requirement to the motion on the floor.

Ordinance 25‑0‑022 was approved as amended and suspended for immediate effect.