The City Council on Thursday is expected to approve about $3.7 million in new spending, amending the current budget about a month after it was passed uanimously.

The budgetary move comes on the heels of a decision by San Antonio Police Officers Association officials to halt labor contract negotiations until the city either rescends a lawsuit against the union or the case works its way through the courts.

Much of revenue being reprogrammed had been earmarked for one-time bonuses for cops when their union reached an agreement on a new contract. The council’s approval effectively kills the chances for one-time bonuses in the fiscal year that began Oct. 1.

“We’re reallocating $3.6 million that could have gone into the pockets of rank and file police,” Councilman Joe Krier said.

Last month, the council opted to defer acting on a lengthy list of proposed budget amendments in hopes that the city would reach a deal on a contract with the cops.

Those hopes were dashed, however, on Sept. 30, when police union President Mike Helle told city officials that his negotiating team was done bargaining under the threat of a lawsuit. The city responded by taking action to move forward on the suit, which had languished in the courts since it was filed.

In a memo to the council, City Manager Sheryl Sculley said that Mayor Ivy Taylor “has requested that the amendments to the FY 2016 General Fund Budget, deferred in September, move forward to the City Council for consideration and approval.

The amendments — which range from $40,000 for shade structures at the Carver Library and Lions Field to $500,000 each for improving the visitor experience at the local missions and increasing funding for Project Quest, a job-training program — were compiled from council member requests and were based on community input, Sculley reminded the council on Wednesday.

“You deferred the adoption of ther amendments to the general fund in anticipation of a collective-bargaining agreement with the police union that would have tentatively been approved in early October,” Sculley told the council.

“The funding for the requested amendments could have potentially been used for that tentative agreement with the police union,” she said.

The council will likely approve a total of 28 amendments to the city’s budget.

Among other things, the funding increases will provide for signage at city entry points alerting drivers that it’s illegal to use cell phones, other than hands-free, while driving; three additional code-enforcement officers, resources for President Barack Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative; and childcare for EastPoint residents participating in job training.

It also includes $150,000 to help operations at the Wheatley Heights Sports Complex on the Southeast Side and $50,000 for infrastructure improvements along the route of the annual Martin Luther King Jr. march.

The city also accepted a three-year, $500,000 matching grant that will partially fund the addition of four new police officers.

Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran told her colleagues she was pleased with the budget amendments, including additional code-enforcement and police officers.

“I do want to say I’m very happy to see what’s included here,” she said. “I think this is very important, and I am very much in support of this.”

jbaugh@express-news.net

Twitter: @jbaugh