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City transfers questioned, approved |
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Tuesday, 29 December 2009 |
By WILLIAM LANEY
Managing Editor
In a last minute clean-up of city funds, Wapakoneta City Council members approved an ordinance Monday for supplemental appropriations so an adequate amount of cash existed in certain line items to pay bills prior to the end of the year.
Wapakoneta Councilor-at-large Wilbur Wells, who serves as chair of the Finance Committee, said the moves are necessary to balance line items within a fund and to close the financial books for 2009. He explained while City Auditor Gail Walter can move money between similar line items within a fund, for example from one capital improvement line item to another capital line item, she needs councilors’ approval to move money between two non-like funds, such as from capital improvement to salaries.
“This is necessary because when we set up a fund’s budget at the beginning of the year we did not allocate enough funds for that line item to cover the expenses until the end of the year so we had to move money out of a line item that we allocated money which currently has more money because it had fewer expenses,” Wells said. “Citizens need to realize this is not overspending on the city’s part, but I think it is spending money from a line item which we failed to allocate enough money to at the beginning of the year.”
Wells, who works as an accountant for Cargill, explained it could not be overspending in a specific department of department fund because the entire fund is not exceeding its allocation or the amount budgeted.
He said he also keeps a close eye on the other line items within a fund when a transfer is requested as well as on the upcoming appropriations being made for the 2010 budget.
“Our goal is to make sure sufficient funds exist in each line item and to get the budget as accurate as possible so there are no transfers at the end of the year,” Wells said. “Residents have to realize that an extra capital expense may be necessary, but at the same time a department supervisor may be able to reduce salary costs because less upkeep is necessary so the two line items balance out at the end of the year but a budget transfer needs to be made.
“I, and the members of my committee, want to get the budget as accurate as we can and we will strive to do that with the 2010 budget that we are working on now,” he said.
The Finance Committee chair also supported his committee member and 1st Ward Councilor Jim Neumeier questioning of fund transfers within the Wapakoneta WaterPark Fund at a council meeting on Dec. 21.
At that meeting, Neumeier and 2nd Ward Councilor Dave Campbell voted against suspending the rule of three readings, six votes are needed, on an ordinance calling for budget adjustments until Walter could explain transfers within capital improvements the Wapakoneta WaterPark Fund. That prompted Monday’s special meeting.
Neumeier questioned transferring $1,400 from a capital improvements line item which contained $2,000 when $1,300 had already been spent from that line item.
Walter explained she moved capital improvement expenditures from the line item in question to another capital improvement line item within that same fund, which restored the money in the initial capital improvements line item.
Walter legally can move money between the same type of funds to pay bills, but she needs councilors’ approval to transfer money from diffferent funds, such as capital improvements to salaries and wages to pay workers.
Neumeier, who serves as chair of the Parks and Recreation Committee and attends the Wapakoneta City Recreation Board meetings, said he indicated he routinely watches funds for the parks closely.
“it is our job to question and make sure the money is there and the funds are correct,” Neumeier told the Wapakoneta Daily News. “I questioned the amounts because the reports we received said the money was not there.”
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 30 December 2009 )
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