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Budget committee corrects $360,000 revenue double‑count, trims contingency
Summary
Budget committee approved an amendment after staff identified a $360,000 public safety fee that had been counted twice in the proposed fiscal plan, lowering the general fund beginning balance and contingency. Committee also approved a smaller amendment to increase estimated building department bank fees.
The City of Independence budget committee on reconvening approved an amendment to correct a $360,000 double‑counted revenue item and reduce the general fund contingency accordingly.
City staff signaled the error during a presentation on the general fund. The finance presenter said the proposal originally showed “a balance of a million 1,” and that “after the amendment it is $776,000 and change.” Staff explained the adjustment was needed because “the public safety fee of $360,000 was inadvertently included in both general revenues and lease revenues for 24/25 estimates.”
The correction reduces the city’s beginning balance and contingency for the upcoming budget year. Committee members discussed other general fund assumptions during the presentation: property tax growth estimated at about 3%, an estimated $250,000 sale of a park property included as miscellaneous revenue for 25/26, and transfers in from utility funds for franchise fee payments.
Committee members then approved a second, smaller amendment to increase the building department’s estimated merchant/bank fees. Staff said more permit activity and credit‑card payments for development permits justified raising the building department fee estimate; the committee amended the budget to add $6,000 to the building department bank‑fee line and offset that by lowering general fund contingency.
No new policies were adopted during the session; the committee’s votes adjusted the proposed numbers so the document reflects corrected revenue recognition and slightly higher estimated card‑processing costs in the building permits area.
The budget presentation covered departmental allocations of shared staff time, planned transitions in the finance department, and a list of proposed personnel and non‑personnel changes that staff will continue to refine before final adoption. Staff emphasized that some line‑item labels are accounting conventions (for example, a “rent and lease” line that mainly reflects copier and equipment leases rather than rented buildings).
Committee chair and staff said the adjustments will be incorporated into the proposed budget and remain subject to final council action.
