Finance committee reports healthy general fund; council approves tax-levy certification resolution

Sunbury — At the Sept. 17 meeting the City Council’s finance committee reported a high-level draft review of the proposed 2026 general fund, plans to meet an audit-mandated cybersecurity policy deadline, and council approved a resolution to accept amounts and rates determined by the budget commission and certify tax levies to the county auditor.

Committee members said the general-fund draft review showed the city in a strong financial position and that staff will continue to refine the budget in future meetings. The finance report noted the audit of state’s review had prompted a directive to prepare a cybersecurity policy; staff said they plan to have a policy in place by the Jan. 26 deadline and that some dollars have been allocated for cybersecurity work.

On the floor, Administrator Hennessy and Finance Director Steffen (referenced by committee) asked council to suspend rules and pass Resolution 2025.24 so the county auditor would have time to set tax rates and prepare tax bills. Council voted to suspend the rules and then passed the resolution in the same meeting by roll call.

Nut graf: The finance committee update combined a broadly positive budget outlook with near-term administrative and compliance items: preparing a cybersecurity policy in response to an audit and certifying tax levies to meet county deadlines.

Ending: Staff will continue budget work in subsequent meetings and proceed with cybersecurity policy development ahead of its Jan. 26 deadline; Resolution 2025.24 was adopted to ensure tax levies are certified to the Delaware County Auditor in time for tax-billing schedules.