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Lancaster reports $1.2 million 2024 general-fund surplus; council committee approves bond reallocations
Summary
Director Tina Campbell told the finance committee the 2024 unaudited year-end general fund finished about $1.2 million better than budgeted and most departments came in under budget. The committee moved two bond-amendment resolutions—affecting 2018 (sewer) and 2022 (water) bond funds—to the full council for final action.
Director Tina Campbell told the Lancaster City finance committee on April 1 that unaudited year-end figures for 2024 show the general fund finished the year with approximately $1,200,000 in surplus, reversing a planned transfer from reserves and boosting cash reserves.
The surplus follows actual general-fund revenue of about $71.3 million against a budget of roughly $73.4 million. "These are unaudited reports," Campbell said, adding that audit adjustments may alter line-item detail but not the broad picture: "Overall, we ended the year very well. Most of the departments and the enterprise funds ended the year better than budgeted."
City finance staff said the originally budgeted plan had included a draw of about $2.3 million from cash reserves. Instead, unfilled positions and other expense savings produced the $1.2 million surplus that will be returned to reserves. Campbell also told the committee she anticipates the city will see increased revenue in 2025—"well over $2,000,000"—largely tied to an earned-income tax increase.
Enterprise funds were mixed. The water fund was budgeted to end 2024 with an $860,000 deficit but closed with a slight surplus of about $700,000. The sewer fund, budgeted to finish with about $1.1 million in surplus, ended with roughly $3.9 million, helping establish a new emergency reserve. The stormwater fund closed with a deficit, but about $400,000 smaller than budgeted; the trash fund ran about $70,000 worse than projected. Campbell noted a missing reimbursement—an Act 101 recycling grant—had not yet been posted and could reduce the trash deficit.
Campbell said the city will provide monthly summary and detailed reports going forward (month-end reports available around the 20th of the following month) and intends to present a budget update to a council committee each quarter. "Because this process is new and really just beginning, I welcome any feedback for what you would like to see in these reports in the future," she said.
After the budget discussion, the finance committee considered two related capital adjustments: Administration resolution 25-2025 (amendments to the capital improvement plan funded by the 2018 general-obligation bonds tied to sewer projects) and resolution 26-2025 (adjustments to 2022 GO bonds tied to water projects). City staff said the amendments do not add new projects or new money; they reallocate existing bond-authorized funds to close out completed projects and move money to projects needing additional funding. The committee was told the 2018-bond shifts total about $2.3 million and the 2022-bond shifts about $5.3 million.
Committee members asked whether the reallocations would delay or reduce any projects; staff answered no. The committee voted to move both resolutions to the next full council meeting for final consideration.
Budget and bond figures discussed by the finance committee are unaudited and subject to adjustment in the formal audit process. Council members and staff emphasized the new cadence of reporting and the intention to strengthen reserves and budget transparency going forward.
Sources: Presentation and Q&A at the Lancaster City finance committee meeting, April 1, 2025; Director Tina Campbell (city finance), committee discussion and motions to move Resolutions 25-2025 and 26-2025 to full council.
