The Southgate City Council met on March 4, 2026, beginning with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and roll call. The primary agenda item was the presentation of the city’s fiscal year 2025 audit by Stephanie Hahn of Bramel & Ackley, which issued the city an unmodified (clean) opinion, indicating the financial statements are fairly presented according to governmental accounting standards. The audit showed the city’s total fund balance increased by approximately $133,000 to $2,378,217, with the General Fund increasing by $463,000. The city’s net position increased by $166,593, while total revenues were $4.106 million and expenditures were $4.097 million. At the end of the fiscal year, the city reported $6.874 million in total assets, $4.126 million in liabilities, and $2.194 million in outstanding debt, which represented a 5.7% decrease from the previous year. Auditors also reported no material weaknesses in internal controls and no instances of non-compliance during testing.

Department reports followed, including updates from Public Works on road patching and maintenance, and from Public Safety where Police Chief John Christmann presented the department’s 2025 annual review. The report highlighted that Southgate was ranked the second safest city in Kentucky for the second consecutive year, calls for service have increased 56% since 2023, and the city has recorded zero traffic fatalities for three consecutive years and only two fatalities in the last 14 years, both occurring on I-471. The chief also noted the need for a backup generator for the police department to maintain operations during power outages and announced that a new officer will attend the 18-week police academy beginning March 9. Fire department officials reported that emergency vehicle repairs recently cost over $40,000, impacting their budget. Additional reports included 50 active code enforcement cases with $2,200 in fines issued, upcoming community events such as Southgate Family Day on June 6, and confirmation that the city currently maintains about six months of operating reserves in the General Fund.

Council approved several items of business, including the February 18 meeting minutes, January financial statements, and two ordinances updating the city’s fire code and community center regulations. Council also passed a resolution to participate in the Northern Kentucky regional SWAT interlocal agreement, ensuring access to the multi-jurisdictional tactical unit if needed. City officials also reported progress toward hiring a new Public Works employee and announced a regional municipal government meeting scheduled for March 30 to discuss legislative updates affecting local governments.

This summary was generated using AI based on the provided meeting transcript.