Amber Strange, chief financial officer, presented the May 2025 financial statement and told the council the city’s sales‑tax collections were trending about $725,000 behind budget year to date through May.

Strange explained that the city uses a cash basis for several large revenue sources, which typically run one to two months in arrears, and that a negative-looking number in the packet reflected timing rather than an immediately realized shortfall. “In looking at this… it looks like there’s a loss of 24,000,000 at this point, but that’s because your revenues are on your cash basis with running two months in arrears,” she said, adding she would present a June statement with accrual estimates to show a clearer half‑year position.

She told council members that departmental percentage budget reports (percent of budget used versus year to date) exist and can be sent monthly; a senior accountant already sends those to departments. Strange said most departments were in line with budget and that the mayor and finance staff were meeting with some departments and expected to bring budget amendments to the council soon; those amendments were not yet reflected in the May packet.

Council Member Ross asked for the return of month‑to‑month departmental percentage reports; Strange said she would add council members to the distribution. After discussion, the council voted to accept and file Communication 3 (the May financial packet).

Speakers and council members noted the timing and accrual issues that can make month‑to‑month figures appear worse than they are and emphasized the value of monthly percentage reports from each department in overseeing budget performance.

No formal budget amendments were adopted at the meeting; Strange said the June report would include those amendment proposals for future consideration.