Finance director reports revenues below amended budget; one major sales‑tax payer delinquent

Alberta Barrett, the city’s finance director, briefed council on the June 2026 financial report and highlighted several areas of concern and follow‑up.

Barrett reported that total General Fund revenues through June were $29,569,917, or about 83% of the amended budget. Property tax remains the largest revenue source at roughly $15 million year‑to‑date (about 51% of revenues). Sales tax, the second‑largest source, was budgeted at $10,827,150 but year‑to‑date receipts were about $7,880,503 (about 73% of budget). Barrett said economic development staff has contacted a major taxpayer that has not remitted sales tax in the last three months and is waiting on a response.

Barrett noted that total expenditures were also below budget in part because of position vacancies and that utility fund revenues typically rise during summer months. Councilors asked for more detail and expressed concern about lower impact‑fee and permit revenues: one councilor said residential permit counts were down compared with prior years and impact‑fee collections were well below expected levels, which could affect capital funding and utility revenue projections. Barrett said some timing and prior‑year equipment purchases explain spikes in prior periods and that staff will follow up on the delinquent sales tax remittance and provide more detail on the sales‑tax payer once available.

"When this was compiled, we're at $15,040,059 or 99% of the amount we had budgeted," Barrett said of property tax receipts; on sales tax she noted, "We have a major taxpayer that we haven't received sales tax from within the last, probably, three months. We have reached out and are waiting to get a response back." Council requested staff to report back with findings and any needed budget implications.