City Council on Tuesday night will vote on Longmont’s $372 million budget for 2021, which also includes over $95,000 in unallocated funds council can dip into once to help a program in need of a fiscal jolt.
In 2019, council used $15,000 from its contingency account to pay for the July 4 fireworks show and $10,000 for a feasibility study for a performing arts facility. This year, council doled out $30,000 for the 2020 Strongmont program and $10,000 in vouchers for residents to dine at local restaurants.
Council members have said at least a portion of next year’s $95,701 contingency account should go for more resources for the Longmont Library or to bolster programs at Longmont Public Media.
There are plenty of places the funding could help, Councilmember Polly Christensen said.
“At a time like this, $95,000 can be used for all kinds of things,” Christensen said. “There are programs that need help, businesses that need help. Everybody needs help.”
Council’s contingency account is a line item in the annual budget. The funds can be used by council for unplanned expenditures or for when an entity requests financial resources, said Jim Golden, the city’s chief financial officer.
A majority of city council must vote for any spending from the contingency account. There is no public hearing tied to the contingency account but the public can voice its opinion on how it should be spent during the public invited to be heard portion of the agenda, Golden said.
Councilmember Joan Peck said she thought any additional funding should go toward the library, which is underfunded compared to other similar facilities according to a consultant’s study.
“I am always a huge advocate for the library, give them what they need,” Peck said at a council meeting earlier this month.
Council is expected to vote unanimously for the $372,036,292 budget. No one spoke against the budget during the public invited to be heard portions of council meetings over the past two months.
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