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Assistant city manager: $4.61 million carryover represents allocated and encumbered funds, not ‘extra’ cash
Summary
Assistant City Manager Chris Phillips told council that the FY23–24 carryover of about $4.612 million primarily reflects encumbered funds and open purchase orders (roughly $621,000) and is largely already earmarked for capital and restricted uses rather than discretionary revenue.
Assistant City Manager Chris Phillips presented the city—arryover report at the Oct. 8 meeting, explaining how FY23–24 carryover works and why the $4.612 million figure does not represent unallocated or discretionary surplus.
Phillips said carryover includes three categories: open purchase orders (items budgeted but not yet received), restricted grant or donor funds that must be spent for specified purposes, and departmental savings that have been set aside for capital purchases. He cited about $621,000 in open purchase orders as an example and emphasized that much of the $4.612 million is already tied to specific capital purchases — such as a long-delayed dump truck and other encumbrances — rather than available as an unallocated reserve.
Council members asked for public-facing clarity because viewers might misunderstand the figure. The assistant manager and others explained that the carryover process preserves encumbrances and moves funds forward to ensure previously budgeted items are paid when delivered; it is a standard municipal accounting and budgeting practice intended to keep committed expenditures available in the next fiscal year.
No vote was required on the informational item. Staff said they would continue to present detailed carryover line items and distinctions between restricted and unrestricted funds during the budget process.
