DeSoto finance director: city revenue tracking ahead of last year; Thorn Tree golf shows seasonal shortfall

Finance Director Lakita Sutton presented February and March 2026 financial reports and told council the city’s general fund is receiving revenue near budgeted expectations. “We are looking at $69,800,000 of revenue and $50,600,000 has been received so far,” she said, calculating that as 72.4% of the budgeted total.

Sutton said year-to-date general fund expenditures are tracking below the fiscal midpoint (about 35.5% in February, roughly 46% by March) and that property-tax collections reported in March are about 94% collected. On enterprise funds, she noted Thorn Tree Golf Club continues to show seasonal variation: month-to-month operating deficits during winter are typical and the course maintains reserves, which she agreed to quantify for council on follow-up. Councilmember Parrette Parker pressed for the dollar amount of Thorn Tree’s reserves and asked for detail about a liability-insurance line showing year-to-date expenditures exceeding the budget; Sutton said reimbursements and claims timing largely explain the variance and that she would research specific grant and reserve figures.

Why it matters: the reports show that core city revenues are tracking in line with expectations but that specific program and line-item variances (liability insurance, certain grants and Thorn Tree operating results) require follow-up to confirm reserves and reimbursement timing.