Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget And Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
OMB proposes charter edits to speed intra-agency transfers and create a revenue-stabilization account
Summary
The Office of Management and Budget asked the Charter Review Commission to let OMB authorize net-zero transfers between budget characters without council approval, allow repurposing of leftover capital-project funds without supplemental council action, and redefine the 5% reserve so it can be used as a revenue-stabilization fund with a proposed 2% access threshold (estimated at about $90 million).
The Office of Management and Budget told the Charter Review Commission on Feb. 4, 2026, that it wants three charter changes to increase budget flexibility without changing overall county spending.
Andrew Pierce, deputy director of OMB, said the first proposal would remove the council approval requirement for net-zero transfers between budget characters (for example, compensation, fringe and operating) — transfers that OMB already vets — so such intra-agency reallocations would not have to go back to the council if they do not change the agency or county totals. "We're proposing to just be able to handle that without council approval," Pierce said.
The second proposal would allow OMB to transfer leftover appropriations between existing capital projects without returning to council for approval; staff said the change would not alter the authority to create or abolish projects, only to repurpose unspent funds for other council-approved projects.
OMB's third proposal would recharacterize the charter's 5% contingency reserve as a revenue-stabilization fund so that it can be accessed through the supplemental budget process rather than only via emergency appropriation. David Juppe, senior legislative analyst with OMB, told commissioners the difference matters when revenues fall: a stabilization fund is intended to maintain existing appropriations during downturns rather than to add to the budget through emergency spending. He recommended access rules that would permit drawing on the fund only after the fiscal year begins and only if revenues fall more than 2% below projections; staff estimated the 2% trigger would equate to about $90,000,000 under the current budget.
OMB staff said the proposed edits are intended to provide flexibility and speed in routine budget management while preserving the role of council for any actions that increase total appropriations. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the supplemental budget and the distinction between contingency and stabilization mechanics; OMB offered to provide follow-up materials and contact information.
