Alliance tables financial-management policy and initial budget timeline for consultant input

The Central Texas Water Alliance deferred action on a proposed timeline for establishing a financial-management policy and an initial budget, directing the consultant and the technical committee to return with recommendations. Board members said initial commitments to the alliance total $175,000 and that the draft multi-year budget the group has discussed anticipates $250,000 to $300,000 in revenues. Board members asked Plummer to include budget and financial-policy guidance in the governance framework, including reserve policy, audit frequency and internal-controls recommendations. Aaron Waters said those items were within Plummer's capability and that Phase 4 of his proposed work would address funding strategy, cost-allocation models and grant/loan application support, though the board could accelerate that work if desired. The board voted to table the item until draft policies and a recommended timeline were available for review. Board members noted the alliance's fiscal contributions do not go into effect until Oct. 1 and asked staff to align deliverables with that funding timetable.