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Riverbank finance department outlines 2024 activity, housing loan oversight and utility workload
Summary
The city’s finance presentation reviewed staffing, functions, 2024 statistics on utility billing, loan portfolio activity and housing program oversight; staff answered questions about home‑loan inspections and drive‑bys.
City staff presented an overview of the Finance Department’s responsibilities and 2024 activity statistics at the March 11 Riverbank City Council meeting.
Assistant City Manager Tamiel Kantor (presenting for the finance department) outlined the department’s roles: budgeting and long‑term financial planning, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, utility billing, business licensing, cashiering, vendor payments and housing program support. Kantor described the department’s staff composition (assistant city manager, assistant finance director, accountant, accounting technician and clerical positions) and its coordination with external auditors and compliance reporting to state agencies.
2024 statistics presented by staff included: the finance team generated roughly 44,000 utility statements over the year; processed approximately 7,400 bimonthly statements per cycle; 795 new utility accounts signed up and 577 closed; 311 payment arrangements/extensions; 105 utility liens recorded with 15 payments received; 37 new business license applications; and accounts payable processing of nearly 10,000 invoices. In housing administration, staff said the city currently manages 91 active city loans, performs annual borrower reviews, insurance checks and site drive‑bys; staff reported completing 25 drive‑bys of properties with city loans in 2024.
Council and public questions: A member of the public asked whether the 25 drive‑bys covered all city loans; staff confirmed those 25 visits were for the 91 city loans managed. Councilmembers thanked staff for the overview and noted the department’s small staffing relative to the workload.
What this means: The presentation provided a working inventory of routine services staff performs and a data snapshot of workload drivers (utility billing volume, loan portfolio oversight and payment processing) that factor into budget and staffing decisions.
Speakers in this item (first reference with role/title): Tamiel Kantor, Assistant City Manager (presenter/finance); Mayor Rachel Hernandez (Mayor); public commenter who asked about drive‑bys (name not specified in transcript). Ending: Council members thanked staff and requested follow‑up as needed on departmental resource needs.
