Tenino council approves consent calendar, reviews audit and budget timing

The Tenino City Council on Oct. 14 approved minutes and two consent calendars that together record payroll and claims totaling $288,447.56, and heard staff updates on the city audit and the work to prepare next year’s budget.

The council voted to approve payroll and claim items for Sept. 24 — payroll EFTs of $46,417.66 and claims checks #33597–33623 for $92,953.71 (total $139,371.37) — and for Oct. 14 — payroll EFTs of $72,958.14 and claims checks #33624–33669 for $76,118.05 (total $149,076.19). The motions were moved, seconded and passed by voice vote.

Mayor (name not specified in the transcript) told the council the city’s audit work remains ongoing and staff expect a few more weeks to complete the final audit. “We’ve been working on our audit,” the mayor said; he added that he and Nancy plan to sit down to review budget items and that a revenues presentation is planned in the near term.

Finance staff reported the preliminary budget will require cuts to balance expected revenues and expenditures next year. The city is also working through a separate issue with the IRS: staff said some 2023 payments were “unapplied,” creating a credit-like notice for an amount described as about “20‑some thousand dollars” and that they are following up with the agency to resolve the accounting.

The council excused Councilmember Elaine Clam from the meeting because she is ill. The meeting adjourned at 07:37.