Cibolo City Council workshop weighs lowering general-fund reserve, staff recommends range

CIBOLO, Texas — City staff presented a risk-based review of the general fund balance to the Cibolo City Council at a workshop meeting, asking whether the city should treat its reserve as a savings account, an insurance policy or a combination of the two.

The presentation, led by Anna Miranda, staff member, and introduced by Mister Reed, staff member, reviewed guidance from the Government Finance Officers Association and the Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool and recommended a reserve target range rather than a single fixed percentage. Miranda told council members, "what is your vision in regards to a fund balance or a fund reserve?" and framed the question around whether the reserve is a "savings account, or is it a risk insurance perspective."

The discussion matters because the fund balance can provide a quick source of money for one-time costs and emergencies but can also be used to support strategic one-time projects. Staff noted the city's current…