A payroll error inside the Storm Lake Fire Department — totaling about $30,000 — came up for discussion Monday as the city council approved its annual budget amendment.
The council opened a required public hearing on the amendment, which drew no public comment. City Finance Director Tyler Gibbins reminded the council that Iowa law requires a budget amendment anytime spending is projected to exceed what was originally approved.
Gibbins said the amendment reflects updated revenues and expenses across several departments, but one of the most significant adjustments involves the fire department’s volunteer payroll. He told the council the issue surfaced during routine budget preparation.
Fire Chief Terence Sinner explained that the errors occurred during a leadership transition, when only one individual had access to the software used to track volunteer hours. He said the department has now put safeguards in place to prevent similar mistakes.
Sinner emphasized that financial oversight is a priority and noted the department has already identified savings in other areas.
Council members thanked staff for catching the issue and stressed that the mistake was administrative — not the fault of volunteer firefighters. They also said they’re confident the new checks and balances will prevent future errors.
The amendment approved Monday reflects a net fiscal impact of just under $272,000, including the fire payroll correction, increased legal and insurance costs, well rehabilitation work, land acquisition and carryover projects from last year.
