Measure S oversight committee approves FY2023–24 report after clean audit

The Measure S Oversight Committee on a unanimous roll call approved a resolution adopting its fiscal year 202324 annual report and attaching the independent audit, committee members said at a regular meeting. Chair Shannon Perry called for the vote after staff presented the audited figures and fund balances.

The committeewhich reviews revenues and expenditures funded by the cityapproved “Resolution number MS 20 20 5 dash 1,” which incorporates the Measure S annual report and the accompanying audit, a City Manager presentation stated. Committee member roll-call votes recorded the measure as approved: Committee member Hyatt — yes; Committee member Reno — yes; Vice Chair (Shamblin/Shandling) — yes; Chair Shannon Perry — yes.

The vote came after a staff presentation that summarized audited revenues, expenditures and capital project rollovers for the year ending June 30, 2024. City Manager Eric Weir (presenting) said the cityusing figures drawn from the independent auditreported total Measure S expenditures and a year-end fund balance. "Our total Measure S expenditure for this year was $2,423,436," Weir said during the review, and he noted expenditures in the year exceeded the year2s revenues but remain covered by the Measure S five-year plan and fund balance.

Finance Director Linda Lieber, who worked with the auditors, told the committee the audit returned a clean opinion. Quoting from the auditor2s report, Lieber said, "In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Measure S tax of the City of Crescent City as of June 30 and the changes in financial position for the year then ending, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America."

Why it matters: Measure S is a local sales-tax funding source earmarked for public safety, streets, the pool and other city services. The committee2s annual report and the independent audit are the mechanism for public transparency and for forwarding the committee2s findings to the city council.

Key details from the presentation: staff compared budgeted figures to actual expenditures across major categories (fire, police, streets, pool and finance). Weir and Lieber identified several rollovers and adjustments: unspent capital appropriations (including funds moved into FY2425 for the ordered SCBA purchase), reallocation of budgeted debt service into capital design and geotechnical work for the police facility project, and the use of unspent street maintenance money to help fund a recent street preservation project. Weir noted the city maintains a five-year Measure S plan to smooth years when spending exceeds receipts.

The committee packet included the independent audit (Bedawi and Associates / text in the packet) and a staff draft of the committee2s report. The committee approved attaching that draft report to the resolution and forwarding it to the city council. Weir told the committee the report would be signed by the current chair when the committee finalizes it.

No additional policy actions were taken. Committee members asked clarifying questions about budget line variances and capital rollovers; Finance Director Lieber and City Manager Weir provided the detail that the SCBA purchase was ordered and moved into FY2425 budget timing, and that leftover balances remain within Measure S fund balances for later allocation.

Ending: With the resolution adopted, staff will provide the signed report and audit to the city council and continue follow-up work on capital projects and the five-year Measure S spending plan.