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Lancaster reports third-quarter finances largely on track as timing of October payments changes year-to-date percentages
Summary
Director Tina Campbell told the finance committee that through Sept. 30 the city’s combined funds were about 73.4% of budgeted revenue and 57.2% of budgeted expenses, noting that large October debt and pension payments materially increase year-to-date spending percentages.
Lancaster City Director of Finance Tina Campbell told the finance committee on Nov. 3 that the city’s financial statements through Sept. 30 show the municipality generally in line with expectations.
Campbell said combined expenses for all funds total about $157 million for 2025 and that, as of Sept. 30, revenues are at about 73.4% of budgeted totals while expenses are at about 57.2%. She emphasized those expense percentages do not include large annual payments — most notably debt service and pension contributions — that were paid in October. Factoring those payments raises expenses to about 67.2% of the annual budget, Campbell said.
“Those were just paid this past Friday on October 31,” Campbell told the committee, adding that with debt and pension payments in October the city is likely to finish the year under budget for total spending. She also said general fund revenue was running at roughly 80.5% of budget, and that earned income tax receipts track close to projections once quarterly employer payments are received.
Campbell said some lines — notably police overtime — may trend higher because of staffing shortages, while staff salary lines remain under budget because of vacancies. She reiterated that the finance office watches department-level trends more than individual line-item variance and that some reallocation within departments is allowed under city code so long as total departmental spending does not exceed approved budgets.
Council members asked whether current trends will hold to year-end and what the largest saving drivers have been. Campbell said vacancy turnover is the primary source of savings year-to-date and that the timing of quarterly or annual payments (for pensions and debt) explains much of the difference between the city’s quarter-end snapshot and eventual year-end totals.
The finance committee did not take any final budget-approval votes at the meeting; Campbell asked members to refer to the detailed reports distributed on Oct. 21 for line-by-line review.
