Ione council workshop: ARPA deadline, missing audits and tight FY25‑26 budget prompt staff direction

Ione — At a special Ione City Council budget workshop on Aug. 27, council members and staff focused on outstanding audits, the remaining $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that must be obligated under federal guidance, and a proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget that does not include the policyized transfers to reserves.

Finance staff also told the council the city’s multi‑year audit work is nearing completion and that staff will return revised year‑end figures at the Sept. 16 meeting. Councilmembers and commenters pressed for clearer tracking of transfers between funds and questioned rising outside legal and investigation bills.

The council workshop matters matter because the ARPA guidance includes a Dec. 31, 2024, obligation deadline for new obligations and because Ione’s audit backlog and legal costs affect how much the city can place into operating and capital reserves under its 2023–24 policy.

Finance manager Andrea reported staff correspondence with the city’s audit partner and said the auditor will complete a final review between August and September, after which staff must prepare the management discussion and analysis (MD&A) that accompanies the audit. Andrea told the council a worksheets of transfers between funds, prepared by staff member Jane, will be updated and presented at the Sept. 16 meeting. "There's no missing…