City commissioners on Monday unanimously passed an $18.7 million budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year.

The budget was approved during a special meeting, which served as the Kingfisher City Commission’s May meeting.

The commission generally meets the second Monday of each month, but had previously pushed this meeting back to allow for budget finalization.

The new fiscal year begins July 1.

By law, budget hearings annually must be held by June 15 and budgets passed by June 23.

The new budget is over $1 million more than the $17.3 million budget approved last year.

The city ended last fiscal year with a $9.7 million carryover.

It’s projected to have $11.8 million in fund balances at the end of this fiscal year.

Estimated revenues and transfers for 2023-24 are $18,745,170 while proposed expenditures and appropriations are $18,734,005.

In a memo to commissioners, Acting City Manager Brittney Hladik laid out a number of capital improvement and large replacement items on tap for 2023-24.

Among the largest expenditures will be $430,000 for the water department to install a SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system and have water towers cleaned and serviced.

Other large expenditures included a small bucket truck for the electric department ($155,000), two police vehicles with necessary equipment installation ($199,000), pole replacement and tree trimming for the electric department ($200,000) and smoke testing and odor control for the sewer department ($100,000).

As for the projected fund balance for this year, some $5.8 million are unrestricted operating funds. That includes $3.7 in the general fund $2.0 million in public works authority; $71,660 in recreation authority; and $37,837 in special projects authority.

Also during Monday’s meeting, commissioners rehired Hladik as city clerk, Anita James as city treasurer, Jared Harrison as city attorney and Kurt Bollenbach as the municipal judge.

In addition, commissioners also approved hiring Blake Hulse to serve as a municipal judge.

Commissioner Geoff Covalt was voted as vice mayor by his peers.

Covalt replaces Wendell Prim in that role. Prim served two full terms and was unable to file for re-election.

Other commissioners present Monday were Mayor Roxie Alexander, Kyle Mecklenburg, Dawn (Terrell) Taylor and Debbie Burpo.