Marianna approves Budget Amendments in special meeting

Marianna, Fla. - The Marianna City Commission held a brief special meeting to approve a series of required budget amendments for Fiscal Year 2024-2025, which are required no later than 60 days following fiscal year end. Mayor Travis Ephriam called the meeting to order, and City Clerk Kim Applewhite walked commissioners through the budget amendments. She explained that the City’s various funds, including the General Fund, both Community Redevelopment Agencies, Debt Service, Utilities, and the Airport, must complete any budget amendments within 60 days following the fiscal year’s close. Revenues and expenses are adjusted to reflect actual activity, ranging from changes in state revenue to grant timing and spending fluctuations.

Commissioner Rick Pettis asked whether anything in the documents needed special attention. Applewhite said the city’s finances performed better than expected in 2024–25. Earlier in the year, officials thought contingency funds might be needed in the airport and general fund, but both finished without tapping those reserves.

Questions turned to the city’s interim line of credit. Applewhite confirmed the city has been drawing on the Regions Bank credit line (Interim Financing) for about three months to cover portions of the Public Safety Complex expenditures that are not grant funded.  The city does have committed USDA loans for a portion of the PS Complex but that funding will not be released until project completion, expected in March or April.  At that time, the city will close on the USDA loans and repay the interim loan at Regions.

Commissioners also reviewed utility revenues, including septic receiving, formerly listed as leachate, which required a budget amendment of about $245,000. Applewhite noted that income from Enviva, a pellet plant the city treats wastewater for, came in roughly $45,000 above budget. Because Enviva deliveries vary based on the company’s budget, the city estimates a budgeted revenue and tracks the revenue in a restricted account.

Mayor Ephriam requested an update on outstanding items related to the Marianna Rehab acquisition. Applewhite said the city continues working through old receivables and several remaining lawsuits, some carrying $25,000 deductible. Most financial obligations have been settled, and roughly $17.6 million from the original $20 million sale remains invested, including about $600,000 earned in the past 10 months. After the first of the year, the city plans to hold a workshop to review long-term investment options, with presentations expected from various financial institutions.

With no further questions, Commissioner Williams moved to approve the budget amendments. Commissioner Pettis seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously, 5–0.