Council committee outlines process to move 2% lapse contingency back into department budgets

Council Member Ron Salem, chair of the City Council's DOGE special committee, told members on Oct. 21 that departments interested in accessing the city's 2% lapse contingency must submit a standard form and obtain auditor review before the committee will consider introducing legislation.

The committee discussion focused on a procedural path for moving roughly $6,000,000 that was held “below the line” as a 2% contingency during the budget process. Salem said, “If you'll look in your little stack, you've got a form that can be completed by the various divisions departments. If they wish to move those dollars above the line...it will go to the auditors to be evaluated and such, and they'll come back to us with everything is okay. And then we'll make a decision whether to introduce legislation.”

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