Finance director outlines EERP rollout, event‑center bond prep; council member presses year‑end shortfall concerns

Finance Director Steve Hoagland told council the city has started implementing its enterprise ERP (EERP) system with Tyler Technologies and expects to be working from the new system starting July 2026; utility‑billing transition is targeted for January 2027. “The system that we're implementing is called EERP, and it's developed by Tyler Technologies,” Hoagland said, adding that grants and the capital‑asset module are in progress.

Hoagland also reported the city has assembled a financing team for an event‑center bond, engaging PFM as financial adviser, Piper Sandler as underwriter and Foster Pepper as bond counsel. He said the finance team has included Port of Anacortes finance staff to coordinate where helpful. Council member (speaker 10) later said he reviewed revenue and expenditures and voiced worry that the city could finish the year with a $2–3.5 million shortfall, asking whether a budget retreat or other course corrections were planned; the mayor and finance staff said a detailed finance update is scheduled next week and no retreat is planned.

Hoagland described interaction with the state auditor's office and the importance of timely audits for rating agencies. He also noted a $700,000 interfund transfer intended for the skate park, restroom and parking lot project that affects apparent utilization rates in finance reports. Council instructed staff to provide deeper year‑end projections and will address operating and CFP planning during upcoming budget review sessions.