Sunbury finance committee reviews wage-and-salary title changes and quarterly finances

Sunbury City’s Finance Committee on May 21 discussed proposed amendments to the city’s wage-and-salary ordinance — including renaming an economic development manager post to director of development and several police position title changes tied to mayor’s court duties — and received its quarterly investment and revenue report showing roughly $21,200,000 in cash and investments.

The changes to the wage-and-salary ordinance are on the city council agenda later the same evening and are presented as title and reorganization updates rather than new appropriations. City staff said the proposed revisions would not change the overall budget appropriation amounts but would alter job titles and responsibilities to reflect current work and to free staff capacity for major infrastructure projects.

The proposed personnel change that drew the most attention was renaming an “economic development manager” position to “director of development.” City staff explained the new title is intended to designate a senior-level position to support both planning and economic-development efforts as Sunbury undertakes major projects, including a wastewater treatment plant expansion. Staff said the change is a retitling; it does not add a new budgeted position beyond funds already appropriated.

The committee also discussed police-department title updates. Deputy Chief Wade said one part-time patrol position would be reallocated to serve as a mayor’s court bailiff and probation clerk, specifically naming Officer Jeff Brooks for that detail. Wade said adding the court-related language to the job title “ensures that proper security can take place in the building when the court system is going on” and noted that titles were adjusted to reflect duties and to allow certification and firearm carry required for court security.

On investments and cash, finance staff reported that Sunbury holds about $21,200,000 in cash and investments, with roughly 45% in overnight liquidity accounts such as STAR Ohio and First Commonwealth Bank. “They are holding steady. They’re still quite high, about 4.7,” finance staff said of STAR Ohio rates, adding that the city is not in a rush to move funds out while those yields persist. Staff reported the city’s laddered securities have an average duration of about 1.3 years and a yield near 4.41%.

Staff walked the committee through revenue highlights: year-to-date interest income is tracking above prior expectations (the council had budgeted $400,000 for the year and staff reported about $263,000 through April), and the city received a $25,000 reimbursement related to the Martindale property remediation agreement. Impact-fee receipts for municipal and road categories were higher than projected so far, which staff attributed to the Ohashi expansion; staff described the city’s four impact-fee categories as municipal building, police building, roads and parks and said impact fees are intended to fund new capital needs rather than routine maintenance.

On expenses, the committee discussed engineering and consulting costs billed by Verdan(t/a)s related to several large projects, including Eastside utilities and the Walnut Creek interceptor. Staff identified approximately $284,000 billed to Verdan(t/a)s in the packet, with about $200,000 tied to Eastside utilities that staff expect will be recaptured from future development as the eastern areas build out. Committee members asked staff to add notation on future reports when an expense is expected to be recouped so year-to-date percentages will reflect items that are temporary outlays rather than permanent costs.

The committee reviewed the bank-to-book reconciliation and check register. Finance staff reported a combined bank balance of $21,844,382, about $80,000 in outstanding checks, and a $332 variance between bank and book that staff can detail on request. Large check register items called out in the packet included a $29,000 payment to IronSite for Walnut Street stabilization (a reimbursable grant), a $26,002.90 payment to Weichert for a city vehicle, and a $71,060 payment to Coughlin Ford for an F-550 truck for the street department. Staff also noted three previously issued 2024 checks that were never cashed were canceled and recorded as negative expenses.

Staff said the city will receive an additional income-tax refund of about $71,000 after the annual allocation review performed by the local tax administrator (identified in the packet as Rita). Finance staff described that refund as a recurring small return the city receives when administrative costs allocated to the tax agency are lower than anticipated.

Formal committee actions at the meeting were limited to routine business: the committee approved the April 16 meeting minutes and later voted to adjourn. The minutes approval passed on a 7-0 roll call; the adjournment motion also passed 7-0.

The wage-and-salary ordinance amendments will go to the full city council later that evening; the finance committee discussion did not include a committee-level vote on the ordinance itself. Staff told the committee they will add clarifying notes in future reports to indicate expenditures expected to be reimbursed or recaptured from developers.