Treasurer says general fund down about $80,000; council told to watch spending

City Treasurer O'Conzo told the Lincoln City Council on Sept. 15 that the city’s general fund balance, including certificates of deposit and cash, stood at about $3.97 million and was roughly $80,000 lower than the previous month. "You'll notice that the general fund balance, if you include the CDs and the cash, 3,970,000.00 plus," Treasurer O'Conzo said during the council meeting. He told aldermen that while the current level is not immediately problematic, the trend is downward and staff will review line items with department heads and may bring recommendations. O'Conzo cited year-to-date revenue figures: income tax receipts were about $85,000 higher than at the same point last year, and sales tax collections were also up compared with a year earlier. He said the personal property replacement tax—referred to as the replacement tax—had fallen by about $145,000 year over year, which offset some other increases. He also noted that the city expects the second installment of property tax receipts in November, which will give a clearer picture of the fiscal position. The treasurer said some month-to-month differences can reflect timing—payment or purchase dates shifting from one month to another—and that he plans to consult department heads before making specific recommendations. The meeting transcript did not include a detailed departmental spending line-by-line or proposed corrective measures; O'Conzo said he would follow up with department heads and bring suggestions to the council as needed.