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CAH says mayoral order paused spending but payments continued; available FY25 funds remain
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Summary
Commission staff said a mayoral order in April paused new spending for several weeks, but payroll and payments continued and the agency remains on track to expend FY25 funds; staff reported 17.86% available overall and about 14% in the grants budget.
Commission staff told the May 19 meeting that a mayoral order issued in April paused new obligations at the Commission on the Arts and Humanities for roughly three weeks to a month but did not halt payments and salaries.
Brandon Saunders, resource allocation officer, said the mayoral action “pretty much put a pause or freeze and remained everything in status quo for about the I don't know, 3 weeks to a month as we awaited approval.” He added that staff continued processing payments and that the agency is now "on the upswing" as requisitions and purchase orders return to motion.
Saunders reported that the agency-wide available percentage read about 17.86% and that the grants section had roughly 14% remaining. He said the agency submitted mini spend plans for the remainder of FY25 and for FY26 while also beginning work on a FY27 budget. Director Aaron Myers said CAH has a tentative financial oversight hearing date of June 4 and is preparing for that hearing.
Why this matters: the pause affected the agency’s ability to obligate funds for a short period; staff said the freeze did not stop payroll or grant payments and that the agency remains on track to expend its budget for the year.
No vote or formal budget action occurred at the meeting; staff reported on current balances and ongoing planning.
Sources: remarks by Brandon Saunders and Aaron Myers at the Commission on the Arts and Humanities meeting on May 19, 2025.
