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Committee advances Berry charter amendments to expand signatories and raise reserve cap
Summary
The Ways & Means committee reported H902 favorable after a Legislative Council briefing. The bill adds the city manager or council members as signatories for city property sale/lease agreements and raises the charter cap on unassigned fund balances from 5% to 10% of the most recent voter‑approved general fund budget; any excess remains earmarked to reduce the tax rate under current charter rules.
The Ways & Means committee on April 24 voted to report H902 (city of Berry charter amendments) favorable after a short presentation by Tucker Anderson of the Legislative Council.
Anderson told the committee the bill makes two narrow changes to Berry's charter: it "adds the city manager or members of the city council as agents that are authorized to sign those sales agreements," and it increases the charter cap on unassigned fund balances from 5% to 10% of the city general fund budget expenses for the most recent voter‑approved fiscal year. Under current charter language, amounts in excess of the cap must be used in subsequent budgets to reduce the tax rate.
Committee members asked whether the measure had any state fiscal impact; Anderson said there was none. After brief discussion a member moved to find H902 favorable and the clerk called the roll. Representatives Brandan, Burkhart, Higgley, Fulk, Kimble, Maslin, Paige, Wazac, Campfield and Hornheiser voted yes; Representative OD was recorded absent. The committee reported the bill favorable and asked the bill reporter to carry the item forward.
No amendments were offered in committee and no votes were recorded against the motion. The committee did not request additional fiscal analysis because Anderson said the changes do not create state‑level costs.
