Advisory board approves minutes and hears finance, water and capital project updates

The Public Advisory Board on March 19 approved the Feb. 19 meeting minutes and received a detailed finance briefing on operating and capital budgets.

Chair called the meeting to order and presented the minutes for approval; a motion to approve was moved and seconded and roll was taken by Christine/Christina. The motion carried, with affirmative responses recorded in the transcript.

A finance staff member told the board that the current amended budget for the January reporting period is approximately $157 million and that about $99 million has been utilized so far, leaving roughly $58 million for the remainder of the year. "Coming in with about 58 million left for the remaining part of the year," the staff member said. The presenter added that operating revenues currently outweigh expenses and cited operating-budget figures: a budgeted $152 million in operating costs with roughly $83 million used to date.

The water department update noted a $32 million annual budget with about $19 million spent year to date and capital spending of about $5 million of a $32 million capital allocation. The finance presenter said debt service and capital work were driving some operating expense changes.

On sanitary revenues, the staff member explained that penalties and late payments account for a portion of revenue, citing a penalty sample figure of about $200,000 and a posted amount near $140,000 as of January, which reflects several months of penalty postings.

Board members asked clarifying questions about capital projects and procurement timing; staff said some monthly estimates were skewed by timing and that adjustments would be made as billing and estimates synchronize. The meeting moved on after the presentation to utility and facilities items.

The board set its next meeting for April 16, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. and adjourned after a motion to adjourn was seconded.