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Council reviews free‑cash transfer proposal; finance staff warns June 30 certification deadline
Summary
Councilors discussed a committee‑recommended transfer of certified free cash (document 243‑25), finance staff warned the certification deadline is June 30, and members questioned how a snow‑and‑ice deficit would be handled if not cleared before certification.
Lawrence City Council considered a proposal to transfer free cash to multiple accounts under document 243‑25 and heard from finance staff that certified free cash must be finalized before the June 30 certification deadline.
Finance staff member Miss Cuffel told the council, “Free cash ends on June 30. After that, we can't use any free cash.” She warned that if the snow‑and‑ice deficit is not cleared before certification, the deficit may have to be carried in the tax recap, which could increase the tax levy.
The transfer before the council was described in committee as a favorable recommendation. The clerk reported the underlying motion on document 243‑25 was made by Council Vice President Infante and seconded by Councilor Luzon; the motion to approve was on the floor for discussion. Councilors asked for the free‑cash balance before and after the transfers: finance staff reported a pre‑transfer balance of roughly $14,000,009 and said approval of the transfers would leave a balance of about $7,684,644. Councilors also asked for the size of the snow‑and‑ice deficit; finance staff gave an approximate figure for the snow‑and‑ice deficit during the discussion.
Council members debated timing and options. One councilor noted that subcommittee votes had previously gone in favor of sending items to full council but that, at the full meeting, members sometimes moved to table items rather than proceed. Councilors emphasized they could consider additional motions before making a final vote.
No final approval or adoption of document 243‑25 is recorded in the provided transcript segment; the motion to approve was on the floor and under discussion.
Budget and timing context provided by finance staff framed the urgency: if certified free cash is not applied before the Department of Revenue certification window closes, some deficits could be carried into the tax recap process. That carryforward can affect the tax levy calculation and would require Council action to change the levy.
