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Finance committee says full statements not available; auditors engaged for 2023 closeout
Summary
At a brief Nov. 13 finance committee meeting, members said full financial packets were not available and asked departments to submit 2026 budget items; an engagement letter was noted for an auditor to complete the 2023 closeout and the 2022 closeout was reported as finished pending council approval.
The finance committee met Nov. 13 for a short session to update members and the public on city finances and budgeting. Committee leaders said they had received additional financial material, including October reports, but did not have complete packets available to distribute at the meeting and directed anyone seeking copies to submit a public-records request.
The committee also asked city departments to submit any needs for the 2026 budget. The chair said staff and finance are still compiling grants and other funding information and that the committee expects a fuller report on the 2023 closeout next week. "We still have to get additional information from the finance department," the chair said, and reiterated, "If you want financials, please submit a public records request." (Speaker recorded as Chair.)
Committee members and members of the public discussed an engagement letter the city received for an auditor to complete the 2023 closeout. The firm named in the transcript appears with inconsistent spellings (transcribed variously as "Cars and Rigs," "Calls and Rigs," and "Carl and Reiser"); when asked who hired the firm, a speaker in the meeting said the firm "were hired last year initially by the city council," adding that the hire occurred because the city did not have a finance director in place at that time. The transcript does not provide a definitive, single official spelling for the auditor; the committee said the engagement work should produce a report next week.
On the 2022 closeout, a speaker said the auditor had finished the 2022 work and that the closeout must be submitted to the legislative auditor and then put before the council for a final vote. The committee did not take any formal votes during the Nov. 13 session and did not announce a final action on either the 2022 or 2023 closeouts.
Members of the public used the meeting to press procedural questions, including why the mayor was not listed on a future agenda and who is currently overseeing finance after the departure of a previous finance official identified in speech as "Mr. River." The chair said she did not make the hiring decision for the finance post and said she did not know who had filled the position. There were no motions or recorded votes in the transcript.
The committee said it will continue reviewing financial statements and plans to provide more complete information at the next finance meeting.
