STEUBENVILLE — Finance Director Dave Lewis unveiled the city’s proposed budget for 2025 Tuesday, telling council he expects a surplus of nearly $41,000 despite a slight dip in income tax revenues.

Lewis said the proposed general fund budget totals $20,827,633. The proposed overall budget, which factors in all other revenue sources, will be just under $57.5 million.

“I’m very pleased considering income tax revenue is down slightly,” Lewis said after the meeting. “The city is fortunate health care costs have been lower than expected and the renewal came in good. Also, our departments have done a good job controlling expenditures.”

Among the highlights: Funding for a much-needed new roof and upgrades to the fire department’s headquarters building ($150,000); a number of resurfacing and street marking programs including a sidewalk extension on Fort Steuben Drive; various water department projects, including plant upgrades, sewer work, a bulk water filling station, club house repairs and vehicles for the parks, water and sanitation departments.

Second Ward Councilman Tracy McManamon sunshined seven end-of-year ordinances, nearly all of them budget related: Amending the 2024 revenue tax budget; appropriating funds to cover expenses through the end of 2024; adopting the 2025 budget; appropriating funds to cover expenses through the end of 2025; adopting a capital improvement plan for 2025-2029; repealing and updating the Table of Organization; and amending an ordinance in effect for adopting a direct cost allocation plan for the city. All will be treated as emergency legislation.

Meanwhile, in response to questions from council, Lewis said Steubenville EMS is holding its own.

“We’re not making money on this, especially when you look at the cost of replacing an ambulance every couple of years,” Lewis said. “I guess the bottom line is we’re not making a lot of money on this, but you’re not losing a ton of money, either.”

Fire Chief Carlo Capaldi said he thinks they’re breaking even, pointing out his department is staffing two ambulances around the clock. “We did over 4,800 ambulance calls last year and it’s just going up, it’s going well,” he said.

“And our people are better served,” Sixth Ward Councilman Mike Hernon said.

Fourth Ward Councilman Royal Mayo agreed, saying performance is “all around better.”

Capaldi said EMA does not offer non-emergency transports.

“Everything we do is emergency transports,” he adds. “If an ambulance is available we’ll do mutual aid calls, too, because they helped us when we needed it most.”

In other matters, Historic Fort Steuben’s board of directors returned the $5,000 council had given them earlier this year to assist with Christmas at the Fort.”

“Thanks to your generosity and the overwhelming support from our community, we are thrilled to share that we had an extremely successful year fundraising for the Christmas at the Fort event,” board members wrote. “This event brings joy to countless families, further highlighting the spirit and charm of Steubenville.”

They asked that the $5,000 “be allocated to the planning of the Fourth Street lighting project, a vital initiative that will continue to beautify and enrich our city.”

City Engineer Mike Dolak told council they should have a pretty good idea how much it will cost to light the Belleview Park ballfield early in April. McKinley and Associates is going to do the preliminary engineering, including drawings, and develop cost estimates before bringing its findings to council.

“We should have an engineering contract … by mid-January, he said.

Council passed a resolution authorizing Parks and Recreation Director Lori Fetherolf or City Manager Jim Mavromatis to execute capital improvements at the Belleview Park..