Auditor says general fund roughly stable at midyear; AG collections boost revenue

The city auditor told the finance committee that general‑fund receipts and disbursements were roughly even through the six‑month mark, and that an outside collections effort recently yielded nearly $572,000 in returns to the city.

The auditor said the general fund began the year with about $9.7 million, reported roughly $23.36 million in receipts so far and about $23.0 million in spending, leaving a current balance he described as about $9.8 million. He said roughly $1.5 million remained encumbered for departments and that about $7.0 million was uncommitted and unencumbered.

The treasurer credited work with the attorney general’s office for bringing in the $572,000 figure, saying the office had helped collect refunds on behalf of residents and that collection partners have been productive. Committee members did not take formal action but noted the funds and asked staff to keep watching spending as council moves into budget season this fall.

Why it matters: The general fund pays for core city operations; midyear stability reduces the chance of midyear cuts but does not remove the need for careful budgeting. Committee members emphasized that payroll and overtime — particularly in public safety departments — remain the largest ongoing cost pressure.

Officials also flagged items for follow up: more detailed payroll/overtime reviews for police and fire; continued monitoring of court fines and permit revenues; and routine updates from the treasurer on outside collections and accounts receivable.

No formal motions or votes were taken at the meeting. The committee moved on to other items after the auditor’s presentation.