Butler ended 2017 with a fund balance of just less than $300,000, which is three times less than the recommended amount.

That’s what a Maher Duessel accountant told city council during Tuesday’s forum meeting.

Beth Dittmer, a senior manager with the city’s auditing firm, said the U.S. Government Accountability Office recommends municipalities have two months of budget expenses in their fund balances.

The city had a $291,417 fund balance at the end of last year, but it should have $1.4 million to meet the GAO recommendation, she said.

“You’re obviously a little shy of that,” Dittmer said when she highlighted the draft of the city’s 2017 audit.

The city ended the year with $1.8 million in total assets and $8 million in outstanding debt, she said.

The final audit will be presented to council when it is complete, she said.

Rotary Park improvements

Council agreed to vote at Thursday’s regular meeting on a motion to waive all building permit fees for the Rotary Club of Butler P.M. to build a picnic shelter and enlarge the basketball court at Rotary Park at Chestnut and Cunningham streets, contingent upon a memorandum of understanding for the long-term maintenance of the improvements.

“We’re proposing to put a shelter in Rotary Park,” said Dennis Baglier, club president.

The shelter would be about 24-by-36-feet, the same size as the shelter the club built at the Institute Hill playground several years ago, and the basketball court would be enlarged into a full-sized court, Baglier said.

He said the club is in the process of obtaining the needed permits.

The club raised more than $100,000 for the Institute Hill playground project and has a lot of volunteers, Baglier said.

Councilman Jeff Smith said he supports the project, but the long-term maintenance has to be discussed.

Architectural district

Council also will consider a motion to recommend amending the zoning ordinance as a first step toward creating an architectural historic district.

A group of residents in a 12-block area bound by Ritts Park, McKean, Pearl and Elm streets wants the city to adopt the ordinance as a key part in their efforts to have their neighborhood become the first architectural district in the city.

The goal of the new zoning district is to preserve the century-old exterior designs of homes in the neighborhood.

Creating the district would help increase the value of property, said Kevin Caparosa, one of the neighborhood organizers.

“People want to know their property values are sound,” he said.

Councilman Jeff Smith, who lives in the neighborhood, said people interested in buying nice homes will look there.

He said residents will not have to restore their homes to comply with the ordinance.

“We just want to preserve what we have. It’s preserving, not restoring,” Smith said.

Police contract

Council will consider a three-year contract with the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 32, which represents city police officers.

The contract would run retroactively from Jan. 1 this year to Dec. 31, 2020.

Mayor Ben Smith said details of the contract would be available Thursday.

Intergovernmental agreements

Council will vote on the first reading of ordinances for two intergovernmental agreements with Butler Township — one to share a fire chief and one to share public works personnel and equipment.

An agreement with the township to share public works staff and equipment will appear on Thursday’s agenda.

Council also will vote on repaying the $1 million tax revenue anticipation loan from PNC Bank and $9,784 in interest.