Wichita's finances look great, at least at the current time.
Mark Manning with the city's Finance department says the city's general fund performed well in 2023 and should do so again in 2024. Because of high interest rate earnings and unfilled job vacancies, the city transferred nearly $13 million dollars to the stabilization reserve fund.
Wages for public safety employees climbed to $173.4 million in 2023. Manning says budget stresses are coming and the reserve fund will likely be tapped by 2025 to offset operating losses.
The council deferred a vote on a proposed amendment pertaining to how vacancies on the council are handled. After some additional work by city staff, the motion is scheduled to return to the council on April 2.
The council approved a $2 million contribution to the Child Advocacy Center of Sedgwick County. The CAC will undergo a 37,400 square foot expansion project at the facility, which will cost $12.8 million. The funding will come from the city's ARPA allocation.
The council also approved a contract to continue monitoring of groundwater contamination in the North Industrial Corridor. The two-year value of the contract is worth over $289 thousand.
$1 million in improvements to the Minisa Bridge at the Little Arkansas River were also approved by the council.
