Resident urges clearer budget presentation; council agrees to get accountant help

Jim Klum, who identified himself as a member of the budget committee, used the meeting's open-floor period to press for greater transparency in the city budget. "I thought it would be better for transparency if the line items were combined all in one fund," Klum said, urging a different presentation of personnel and other expenditures so the public could better follow where money is going.

Councilor Matt Wenick pushed back on the proposed format, saying the manager's role is to prepare the budget and provide a budget message explaining expenditures. "The manager's job is to do the budget and present a budget message that explains everything, where the money and everything is going," Wenick said. Councilor Josh Walker agreed that the manager should be part of the process and warned that separating every expenditure could overwhelm readers; he suggested bringing in an outside accountant for guidance.

Manager/Recorder Deborah Oatman was present during the exchange; councilors discussed having auditors or an accountant assist Oatman in reviewing QuickBooks to improve public clarity. Councilors agreed, without a formal vote recorded in the transcript, to contact auditors or an accountant to help review the bookkeeping and presentation.

The exchange did not result in a formal motion or ordinance change during the May 9 meeting; councilors framed the next step as a technical review by financial professionals to help the manager prepare clearer budget materials for the committee and public.