Treasurer briefs board on cash, delinquency and JCI project; aldermen approve retroactive police pay

Treasurer Mary Markowski presented the city’s financial reports for the period ending Aug. 31 and reviewed pooled cash balances, recent bond proceeds, and delinquent-tax trends. Markowski said pooled cash rose in August following property tax collections and that the city received bond proceeds that will be reflected in September reports.

Markowski discussed delinquent property-tax balances, noting prior-year delinquencies on Aug. 31 totaled about $1.3 million, an increase of roughly $165,000 compared with the same reporting period the prior year. She said staff are pursuing sales and payment agreements and that several large delinquent properties are listed for sale and may reduce the balance.

The treasurer also updated the board on the JCI construction project escrow account: she said about $2.15 million remained in the JCI escrow account as of the Aug. 31 reporting she reviewed and that the project had started drawing against previously larger funding totals; additional requisitions were pending and required mayoral and staff review before release from escrow.

Separately, aldermen voted to approve retroactive pay for two police department positions to be charged to fiscal 2025. The board approved a retroactive payment of $16,339.81 for the staff operations position and $8,951.63 for the executive assistant position, both identified as FY25 expenses.

Markowski said she will continue to provide monthly reconciled reports and work with departments on cash and delinquency trends; she and staff plan to circulate JCI requisitions and other supporting documentation to the board on request.

The board did not take any additional budget actions at the meeting beyond the retroactive pay vote.