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Committee reviews 2025 reconciled billing and flags driver staffing and overtime for 2026
Summary
Committee members reviewed 2025 reconciliation results and February 2026 operational data; staff reported final 2025 billings were distributed, payroll is under budget due to unfilled driver positions, overtime is over budget, and contingent offers were issued to fill five driver vacancies with projected in-service dates in mid-April.
Committee staff reported that 2025 year-end reconciliation and final billings were completed and distributed to partner entities. Jean Henning, transit accountant, said the 2025 reconciliations were run against the general ledger, final billings went out last week, and staff do not currently anticipate further 2025 adjustments unless a significant issue arises.
On 2026 operational data, staff reported a staffing shortfall: five unfilled driver positions at the end of February have driven overtime costs above budget even though payroll overall shows a net under-budget position because vacancies reduced regular wages. Cole (operations) said contingent offers have been extended for all five driver openings; three candidates are in the final stages of training and three additional full-time hires are expected to start April 13 and proceed through roughly a month of classroom and behind-the-wheel training. Staff expect paratransit overtime to drop significantly after local colleges end their semesters in spring and to remain lower through the summer, with full staffing anticipated later in the year.
Staff also explained accounting behavior affecting visible revenue: a one-month lag exists between earned revenue and posting in the ledger, and purchase-of-service lines are posted by mode rather than by customer, so some revenue and cost lines will not tie exactly during the posting lag. Jean flagged that Fargo was about $51,000 under the 2025 budget projection and that some contract work and AI camera costs had pushed certain February line items modestly over budget.
Committee requests and next steps: members asked staff to provide projected payroll figures and projections based on February pay periods; staff agreed to circulate the requested details to committee members. Staff will continue monitoring hiring progress, training timelines and overtime trends and will report back to the committee.
