Finance director says FY2027 budget balanced, levy and tax rate continuing to trend down

Finance Director Sarah Tritle presented an FY2027 budget update to the Center Point City Council at the Feb. 10 meeting, saying the city's budget remains balanced with a planned surplus even as revenue growth is constrained by state law and departments absorb inflationary cost increases.

Tritle presented month-to-date revenues and expenditures and summarized fund balances. The minutes record overall totals and fund-level figures (for example, a report total of $132,706.31 for the claims period and separate fund balances for General, Road Use, Water, Sewer and others). She told the council the levy and tax rate are trending down but that statutory limits on revenue growth constrain the city's ability to generate larger revenue increases.

Dustin Opatz of Creative Planning reviewed the FY2025 audit; the minutes state the full audit is available on the city website, at city hall, at the library, and at the state auditor's office. Tritle said department heads have met and are absorbing inflationary costs while aiming to keep the FY27 budget balanced.

Operational updates relevant to the budget were also reported: Parks & Recreation reported program activity and upcoming hires (covered by an approved resolution), Public Works described spring preparations, and staff noted that RFPs for trash services are due Feb. 19 and will be released for resident review before the Feb. 24 council meeting.

The presentation provided the council with current financial context and directed staff to continue implementation and monitoring as the FY2027 budget process advances.