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Weed council approves budget adjustments and allocates $71,000 in TOT funds to local groups
Summary
Council approved two budget-adjustment resolutions to close fiscal 2022–23 and adjust the 2023–24 general fund (including transfers from a settlement fund) and approved transient-occupancy-tax allocations to local nonprofits and events, distributing the advertised averages to applicants.
Weed — The City Council voted to approve two budget-adjustment resolutions to tidy fiscal-year accounts and to distribute transient-occupancy-tax (TOT) dollars to local organizations that operate community events and visitor services.
Budget adjustments: Council approved Resolution No. 25-2024 to close out fiscal year 2022–23 and correct previously unrecorded adjustments. Staff reported the general fund showed a deficit in the close-out and that approximately $155,000 would be moved from Fund 37 (the Roseberg settlement fund) to cover shortfalls. Council also approved Resolution No. 26-2024 with year-to-year projections for 2023–24; staff said the general fund remains under strain and that a transfer of roughly $206,651 from Fund 37 would be needed to cover projected shortfalls.
Why it matters: Council members pressed for tighter, earlier budget monitoring and noted frequent finance-director turnover in prior years. Staff said audits for 2022–23 had begun and that improved accounting and new software are planned to reduce future surprises.
TOT allocations: Council also held presentations from organizations seeking TOT funding and voted to distribute the allocations based on the averages presented (about $71,000 in total allocated to volunteer organizations). Recipients and requests included: the City of Weed (about $25,000 requested for event overtime and public-safety overtime), the Calla/interpretive information center (approx. $1,500 for a website and nature trail), the Family & Community Resource Center (requests for Kids Day $3,000; summer camp $1,500; Trunk-or-Treat $600), CISU Food Assistance (run-for-food and emergency pantry), Weed Farmers Market (operational expenses and EBT match), Weed Historic Lumbertown Museum (staffing and lighting upgrades; flood repairs), Weed Chamber of Commerce (about $50,000 requested for the visitor center and event promotion), and the Weed Cemetery Association (maintenance, paving and signage projects).
Council deliberation emphasized that TOT revenue comes from visitors "heads and beds" and that some members believe obligations such as police, fire and public-works overtime should be paid from the general fund rather than TOT; others noted those services are currently funded in part by TOT. The police chief explained that events create extra overtime demands and that some cities charge event organizers for barricades or off-duty coverage as an alternative funding source.
Outcome and next steps: Council approved the written allocation averages as presented and passed the budget-adjustment resolutions. Staff said they will continue the audit work and return with further budget materials and, if requested, options for recovering event costs through asset-recovery or permit-based fees for private security and barricade labor.
Who spoke: Applicants included Denise Spade (CISU Food Assistance), Paul Shelton (Weed Historic Lumbertown Museum), Nancy Irvine (Weed Chamber), Marleene (Family & Community Resource Center) and Tom Mill (Weed Cemetery Association). Finance staff and the chief of police briefed council on the fiscal and operational implications of event-related overtime.
The council's action closed fiscal housekeeping items and distributed the advertised TOT funds; council members said further budget work is needed to prevent recurring transfers from Fund 37.
