Ways and Means committee delays audit review, flags printing overrun and missing bank-tax receipts

The Ways and Means Committee postponed a full review of the city audit on May 7 and moved the item to the June committee meeting, the committee heard, preserving the June 30 deadline for filing.

The delay came during the city administrator's report. The city administrator said, “So rather than having us, not fully analyze the audit, we're going to put that off until the June Ways and Means meeting,” and added the audit will still meet the June 30 deadline.

Committee members also discussed the budget process timeline and the March financial statements. Michelle, a city staff member who presented the statements, said, “Nothing sort of rises or falls to any real occasion at the moment. No trends have really been set just yet. Everything does seem to be on track revenue wise, where we were last year versus this year.”

Members asked about two specific items. First, the financial institution tax has no receipts posted so far this year. Michelle said that the tax is “one of the most ungaugeable deposits” because it depends on banks submitting their data and warned that a continued absence of receipts by June could be a concern.

Second, the committee pressed about a printing expense that already exceeded the line item. A staff member reported the statement showed an expense of about $1,500 against a budget of $1,200 for a particular printing line. Committee members were told the bulk of the cost is tied to printing the 2025 budget book; staff said it was a one-time hit and they will monitor whether a permanent budget increase is needed next year.

The committee also approved the consent agenda, including the April 8 meeting minutes, by acclamation.

The audit deferral, the budget calendar and the close monitoring of the printing line will be revisited at the June Ways and Means meeting ahead of the full Board of Aldermen review.