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Finance director presents budget-status report; committee requests quarterly updates
Summary
Finance Director Jamie Livermore presented a revised budget-status report showing available balances and encumbrances, described presentation changes and department encumbrance practices, and the committee asked for quarterly updates and optional ad-hoc access to the reporting system.
Jamie Livermore, director of finance, presented the committee with a budget-status report that displays how much is available in each budget line and separately shows encumbrances for outstanding purchase orders.
Livermore told the committee the new report differs from prior versions by showing remaining available amounts rather than percent used. "So the previous reports would show how much was, it would show the percentage in the opposite way. It would show how much was used, whereas this shows how much is available," Livermore said. She explained that many departments now place large purchase orders or encumbrances when a council resolution authorizes a significant purchase; those encumbrances reduce the available amounts even though final invoices may still be pending.
Committee members noted overall budgets looked healthy. Livermore said most line items were within budget or exceeded the expected remaining availability and that only a small number of line items were slightly over in dollar terms. The committee discussed overtime in public safety and seasonal impacts in recreation; Livermore said overtime is a variable the city tracks closely and that recreation spending rises with summer programming and pool operations.
Members asked for regular updates. Livermore offered to provide the report monthly if desired but recommended quarterly distribution for the committee. "I can do 1 every month if you want, every quarter if you want. It's up to you," she said. The committee requested quarterly reports and asked that finance staff consider giving committee members access to the reporting system so they could run ad-hoc reports when needed.
No formal committee action was required; staff will provide quarterly budget-status updates and explore user access for committee members.
