The Sandusky Boards & Commissions finance committee approved the May financial report after staff presented year‑to‑date numbers showing revenues roughly in line with last year and several funds set aside for future projects.

Michelle Reeder, staff member, presented the report and said, “We're pretty much the same spot this year that we were last year,” and noted a key timing difference: a $900,000 state grant advance for the Perkins Avenue project was repaid in May 2024, which inflated last year’s reported revenue compared with 2025.

The nut graf: The presentation showed total year‑to‑date revenue through May 2025 of about $11.4 million, compared with roughly $11.9 million at the same point in 2024; staff told the committee that the earlier year included a $900,000 repayment of an advance tied to a Perkins Avenue state grant. The report also described taxes earmarked for the planned Causeway project with Cedar Fair and a voter‑approved recreation levy that is being held in a designated recreation center fund.

In the most important details: Reeder said admissions tax receipts were “about $808,800 dollars above where we were last year,” while lodging tax receipts were down about $2,900. Staff reported year‑to‑date wages and fringe of about $6.5 million, administrative support transfers of about $4.8 million, and total transfers of about $4.3 million. Total expenditures and transfers year‑to‑date were described as roughly $12.9 million in 2025 versus nearly $12 million in 2024.

Reeder summarized budget pacing: “As a reflection of the budget so far this year… we’ve expended 39% of our budget,” and she compared that to an expected ~41% by the end of May. On the revenue side she said the city had received about 36% of its budgeted revenue through May; she noted that, as a tourist city, more revenue is expected after Cedar Point reopens for the season.

Cash and staffing: The general fund cash balance at the end of May 2025 was reported at about $5.1 million compared with $5.137 million at the same point last year. Reeder also reported 248 full‑time employees citywide and said the fire department was fully staffed while the police department remained “short a couple officers.”

Funds for Causeway and rec center: Committee members asked whether money collected for the Cedar Fair/Causeway project was being set aside. Reeder said the city has set funds aside in the capital fund while it awaits a finalized agreement with Cedar Fair, and that the 20‑year clock tied to those commitments would start when the final agreement is executed and approved by the city commission. Reeder said, off the top of her head, “it was $1,250,000 that we were gonna set aside for 20 years to help with the Causeway project,” and added that the city was still waiting for Cedar Fair’s finalized document before the clock would begin.

Captain Spadej asked staff to show account details at the next meeting; he said his understanding was “somewhere around $4,000,000 so far on that causeway tax,” a figure Reeder did not confirm and offered to detail next meeting.

Recreation levy funds were described as held in a new fund (fund number 228, recreation center). Reeder said those levy proceeds and Cedar Fair partnership funds intended for the rec center have been used only for rec‑center‑related expenses to date, including design, and that additional financing and construction timing will come back to the commission as designs and bids are finalized.

Other capital projects: Staff said the Landing project is expected to come before the commission in July and that the rec center project is likely to return with financing numbers around August for commission review.

Procedural actions and recognition: The committee voice‑approved the February 14, 2025 minutes, moved and approved the finance report as submitted, then voted to enter an executive session to meet with the independent auditors. After returning from executive session, committee members publicly recognized the finance and audit team for the 2024 audit work.

The committee adjourned after routine closing business; staff said more detailed account breakdowns for the Causeway set‑aside would be provided at a future meeting.