The Arizona City Council Committee on Ways and Means on June 2 approved an amended order to transfer $16,083 from the general fund budgetary balance to the solicitor’s insurance account to cover the June insurance payment for the Old Everett High School building.

Councilor Hanlon raised that the June payment was due June 8 and that the committee would not meet again until June 9; he asked staff to add $1,583 to avoid a late fee. City Solicitor Colleen Mejia confirmed the amendment and said the additional funds would be applied to the general liability line item.

Mejia explained the shortfall occurred after staff inadvertently double-paid the insurance for the Pope John Building. She said the city pays insurance on a staggered schedule (six months in one fiscal year and six months in the next) and that the monthly payment for the Old Everett High School policy is about $31,000; she said the Pope John Building’s monthly payment is about $7,000. The committee discussed the insurer and broker names: Mejia said the policies are with Seneca and brokered by Sabatino Insurance.

Council members asked for backup documentation. The committee amended the order by $1,583 — bringing the total to $16,083 — and approved the amended appropriation by voice vote. Members asked Attorney Mejia to provide documentation of the overpayment to Pope John and the invoice showing the amount now due.

The committee then adjourned. The appropriation was described as a short-term budget fix to ensure timely payment of the insurance premium and to avoid penalties.