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Bratenahl finance committee reviews 2026 budget; fiscal officer to return with June reconciliations
Summary
At a May 5 Special Finance Committee meeting, Fiscal Officer Diana Cooks reviewed 2026 appropriations and receipts and asked to return with June reconciliations; members pressed on income-tax timing, contingency use and short-term expense delays but took no formal votes.
The Village of Bratenahl’s Special Finance Committee met May 5 to review the 2026 budget and receipts. Chair Tracy Hoefling opened the meeting and turned the floor to Fiscal Officer Diana Cooks, who presented appropriation statuses and department ledgers through mid-April.
Cooks told the committee the documents she circulated remain current pending the April bank reconciliation and explained that May and June collections will be important to cash flow. "If that holds true for this year, we're almost halfway there on repaying that refund for the income tax," she said, citing May 2025 receipts of about $457,000 and a June 2025 total near $374,000.
Cooks explained the difference between the "book" balance (UAN) and the "bank" balance (Dollar Bank) and said reconciling those will be necessary before finalizing available cash. She noted Council had only half-appropriated the 2026 budget and described columns for final appropriation, current reserves for encumbrances and unencumbered balances.
Committee members asked for additional timing details from RITA and requested that Cooks come back to Council with June expenses once the April bank reconciliation is complete. Cooks recommended short-term delays rather than outright eliminations for select line items—such as deferring uniform allowances and nonessential purchases—while preserving legally or operationally required spending, including mandated police training.
No formal votes were taken. The committee discussed next steps, including pursuing outstanding reimbursements from county projects and reviewing professional-service contracts, and adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
