The Gig Harbor City Council unanimously voted to approve the 2012 budget Monday night.

After a second reading of the ordinance and a public hearing at which no one spoke, all five council members present — Tim Payne, Derek Young, Jim Franich, Ken Malich and Paul Conan — approved the total budget of $55.6 million. While Mayor Chuck Hunter was present, council members Steve Ekberg and Paul Kadzik were not in attendance.

“There’s been no changes since the first reading (Nov. 14),” city Finance Director Dave Rodenbach said.

The budget represents an increase of more than $15 million from the 2011 budget, largely due to an increase in capital outlays ($8.7 million), interfund transfers ($4.7 million) and professional services ($2.4 million).

Total budgeted revenues for 2012 are $29.2 million, budgeted beginning fund balances total $16.1 million and interfund transfers are $10.4 million. Total budgeted expenditures for 2012 are $35.9 million, interfund transfers are $10.4 million and budgeted ending fund balances total $9.5 million.

In other budget news, the city council unanimously voted to approve an ordinance to amend the general fund — the catchall account that sustains day-to-day operations — and the street operating and street capital funds of the 2011 budget.

The original ending general fund balance appropriation was nearly $3.2 million, and the amended appropriation is $3.25 million. The amendment to the general fund was the result of additional funding required by the street capital fund.

The street capital fund appropriation was nearly $912,000, with an amended appropriation of more than $2 million. The 2011 actual beginning fund balance of the street capital fund fell short because 2010 year-end street project expenditures were greater than estimated in the 2011 budget.

The street operating fund originally was budgeted for nearly $1.6 million, with an amended appropriation of more than $1.6 million. The amendment was necessary due to repairs to city property caused by an accident.

In other business, the city council reviewed and held a public hearing on a proposed zoning code text amendment in response to a request by St. Nicholas Church and School to include private schools in the uses eligible for performance-based height exemptions for gyms and performing arts-related facilities.

The current code specifically allows for height exemptions for public schools, museums, fire training towers and other structures.

St. Nicholas wants to build a gym at some future time and wants the structure to be of adequate height — in the range of 35 to 40 feet. The church has not yet submitted a specific height request.

On Nov. 3, the city’s planning commission voted to recommend approval of the amendment.

“It simply puts us on a level playing field — literally — with public schools,” said Eileen McKain, a member of the church and a land-use attorney.

She called the church’s request fair and modest, saying St. Nicholas wants nothing more than the same consideration public schools get.

Five Greyhawk Avenue residents whose property abuts or is otherwise near school property weren’t quite so sure, citing such concerns as increased noise and traffic, obstructed views and lower property values.

McKain assured concerned neighbors that any potential gym or performing arts center is only in the planning and design stage, and that their concerns would be taken into account.

“We’re going to include them (neighbors),” she told the council, “because it’s the right thing to do.”

The city council chose council member Derek Young to represent the council on Pierce Transit’s Public Transportation Improvement Conference, the first meeting of which is set for Dec. 16 at the Puyallup Library.