Wasilla finance recommends moving MATCOM dispatch and Menards Sports Center to special revenue funds

During the budget kickoff, Finance Director Ted recommended two fund‑classification changes to improve clarity about dedicated revenues and subsidies.

First, he proposed moving the MATCOM dispatch/E‑911 operation out of the general fund into a special revenue fund so contract revenues and partner contributions appear alongside dispatch expenditures. Ted said the dispatch budget is about $7,300,000, with roughly $3.5–4,000,000 coming from dedicated revenues. "If you look...taking it out of the general fund does a couple very, beneficial things for the council and for the citizens," he said, noting the change would let the council "analyze what the cost is for the city to run an E911 center." He said auditors recommended a council resolution that states the council's intent to make the change.

Second, Ted suggested moving the Menards Sports Center from an enterprise fund to a special revenue fund to show clearly the transfer from the general fund (he cited roughly $1,000,000 in annual general‑fund support). He said the change would not in itself eliminate the subsidy—the council would still need to decide funding levels—but would make the subsidy and the facility's full costs more transparent. Council members asked staff to include a detailed summary of the operational and accounting effects in any staff report and to present the proposed procedural vehicle (resolution or ordinance) and the auditor's view.

Administration said auditors would be available to brief the council and that staff could bring a draft resolution by the next budget meeting if the council signaled consensus. Councilmembers generally expressed support for the concept and asked for historical trends and clear explanations of how the transfers and sales‑tax treatment would be displayed in the revised budget book.