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Council says audit finding reflects timing; liquor referendum applications on hold amid lawsuit
Summary
A resident raised questions about an audit finding and the status of the liquor referendum; city officials said the audit items reflect timing of invoices and collections and that the liquor-applicant process is paused due to litigation.
During public comment at the May 12, 2025 meeting, resident Karen Hardrick cited the city’s schedule of findings and responses from the June 30, 2024 audit, asking about an apparent unrecorded accounts-payable amount. Hardrick said the audit report indicated the city did not record roughly $2.2 million of accounts payable as of June 2023 and also referenced $320,069 for the year ended June 30 (words and numbers read from the report in public comment).
City leaders responded that the finding is a timing issue tied to when invoices are received and when grant or construction-related collections are recognized, not missing funds. Mayor Barbara Bender said the issue related to timing of invoices and collections and that there is no missing money; the city manager offered to respond in writing to Hardrick’s request for further explanation.
Hardrick also asked for an update on the liquor-referral process. The mayor said the liquor-applicant lottery and application process are on hold because a judge is reviewing a lawsuit challenging the process; the city cannot move forward while litigation is pending.
The council did not take formal action on either matter at the meeting; staff committed to follow up by email with more detail on the audit finding.
