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Council approves vouchers, voids long-outstanding checks and hears 2024 finance overview; proposed contract-approval ordinance fails
Summary
The Common Council of the City of Lawrence on March 19 approved voucher and claims actions, unanimously voted to void long-outstanding checks and received a controller briefing on 2024 finances; a council-sponsored ordinance changing council approval of certain contracts failed after an unfavorable committee recommendation.
The Common Council of the City of Lawrence approved several routine financial measures on March 19 and heard a high-level presentation on the administration’s 2024 finances from Controller Nagila.
Councilors approved the minutes of the March 3 meeting and multiple voucher and claims approvals. A roll-call on one set of voucher signings recorded an 8–1 vote to approve (Councilor Wells cast the lone no vote). The council later unanimously approved vouchers referred from the February 19 agenda. The council also voted unanimously to void outstanding checks issued December 31, 2022, after a favorable committee recommendation.
Controller Nagila presented the city’s 2024 financial results and fund balances. The administration reported general fund revenue of $27,039,971 and general fund expenses of $25,678,866, leaving the general fund with cash reserves reported at $7,380,635 (above a stated 20% threshold). The controller told councilors that federal ARP (American Rescue Plan) funds and stormwater funds are separate, restricted funds and are not legally transferable to other uses. The controller also said utility bond proceeds and GO-bond proceeds were held in separate funds; utility bond payments were paid from utility funds and not the civil city general fund.
Proposal 2, an ordinance to amend Title 1, Article 1, Chapter 2, Section 12 of the municipal code regarding common-council approval on expenditures and professional service contracts, received an unfavorable recommendation in committee. Councilor Wells, who identified himself as the sponsor, moved to approve the proposal on the floor but the motion did not pass. The council did not adopt the ordinance.
Councilors asked the controller clarifying questions about the status of specific bond and ARP funds; the controller said ARP reimbursements and associated funds are accounted for in separate, restricted funds and that the city cannot legally transfer those monies to general-purpose spending.
The meeting record shows no additional budgetary ordinances were adopted at the March 19 meeting; the controller said more detailed accounting documents had been presented during the 2025 budget process and councilors asked to review them again if needed.
