City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
PH3-1
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended the City Council discuss and consider introduction of a Balanced
Budget Ordinance.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
On December 1, 2008, the City Council directed staff to bring back a proposed
ordinance that would require the City to adopt a balanced budget. Staff has
completed drafting this proposed Ordinance, and it has been reviewed by the Budget
& Finance Subcommittee. The general provisions of the attached proposed
Ordinance are as follows:
• Section 3.07.400 would be added to the Culver City Municipal Code requiring
that General Fund ongoing expenditures shall not exceed budgeted ongoing
revenues for each budget year.
• Section 3.07.405 specifies that for each budget year, the City’s projected ending
reserves shall not be less than thirty (30%) percent of budgeted operating
expenditures.
• Section 3.07.410 provides the ability to use reserves for financial emergencies. If
a financial emergency is declared by a four-fifths vote of the City Council, the
City’s reserves may be used to help balance the budget for a single year, but
the projected reserves may not fall below twenty-five (25%) percent.
Additionally, the City must implement measures to restore the projected ending
reserves to thirty (30%) percent by the end of the immediately following budget
year, or with a four-fifths vote of City Council a longer payback period can be
adopted.
Meeting Date: 03/09/09 Item Number: PH-3
AGENDA ITEM: Introduction of a Balanced Budget Ordinance
Contact Person/Dept.: Jeff Muir, Chief
Financial Officer
Phone Number: 310-253-5865
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Public Hearing: [X] Action Item: [] Attachments: [X]
Public Notification:
Master E-Mail Notification List (03/04/09)
Department Approval:
Jeff Muir (03/03/09)
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (by H. Baker) (03/03/09)
Chief Financial Officer Approval:
Jeff Muir (03/03/09)
City Manager Approval:
Jerry B. Fulwood (03/05/09) City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
PH3-2
• Section 3.07.415 provides that ending reserves in excess of thirty (30%) percent
may be appropriated only for one-time, non-recurring expenditures that will not
increase future operating costs. It also provides that any other use of these
excess reserves may be approved by a four-fifths (4/5) vote of the City Council.
The City is facing very difficult financial times in the coming years, and difficult
decisions will need to be made. The currently approved financial policies also include
language that the City will adopt a budget where ongoing expenditures do not exceed
ongoing revenues, and that reserves in excess of the thirty (30%) percent requirement
may only be used for one-time expenditures. This proposed ordinance provides a
more formal structure for ensuring the adoption of balanced budget than the City’s
current financial policies, while still providing the City Council some flexibility with a
four-fifths (4/5) vote.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
This proposed Ordinance will require the City to adopt a balanced budget, where
ongoing revenues meet or exceed ongoing expenditures. This will assist the long-
term financial viability of the General Fund, but may require difficult decisions to get
there.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Proposed Ordinance
2. Council Policy Number 5002 – Financial Policies
MOTION:
That the City Council:
1. Discuss and consider introduction of the Ordinance; and
2. Introduce the Balanced Budget Ordinance (if desired); or
3. Direct staff as deemed appropriate.
MEETING DATE: 03/09/09
AGENDA ITEM: Introduction of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 3.07,
Finance and Revenue, of the Culver City Municipal
Code to Add a New Subchapter 3.07.400, et seq.,
Entitled “Budget Restrictions,” Relating to Regulating
the Adoption of Balanced City Budgets and the Use of
Reserve Funds
ATTACHMENTS
Pages
1. Ordinance 1-4
2. Council Policy 5002 – Financial Policies 5-14
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ORDINANCE NO. 2009-
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CULVER CITY,
CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 3.07, FINANCE AND
REVENUE, OF THE CULVER CITY MUNICIPAL CODE, TO
ADD A NEW SUBCHAPTER 3.07.400, et seq., ENTITLED
“BUDGET RESTRICTIONS,” RELATING TO THE ADOPTION
OF BALANCED CITY BUDGETS AND THE USE OF RESERVE
FUNDS
WHEREAS, the City of Culver City is committed to operating in a financially
responsible manner; and,
WHEREAS, it is critical for the City to maintain a structural balance and avoid
operating deficits in order to preserve its General Fund reserves, maintain favorable ratings
with the bond rating agencies and ensure its long-term ability to provide necessary services;
and,
WHEREAS, structural balance is achieved when budgeted ongoing revenues
meet or exceed budgeted ongoing expenditures; and,
WHEREAS, the City is projecting an operating deficit in Fiscal Year 2009/2010
and beyond; and,
WHEREAS, unfunded liabilities and mandates threaten the City’s ability to
maintain a structural balance; and,
WHEREAS, the City desires to avoid drawing down on its General Fund
reserves in order to balance its budgets; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council has already adopted a policy of maintaining a
General Fund reserve equal to at least thirty (30%) percent of appropriated ongoing
expenditures; and,
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WHEREAS, it is the intent of this ordinance to restrict the adoption of budgets
that rely on the use of General Fund reserves to achieve balanced budgets.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Culver City, California,
DOES HEREBY ORDAIN as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 3.07, Finance and Revenue, of the Culver City Municipal
Code is hereby amended to add a new subchapter 3.07.400, et seq. entitled “Budget
Restrictions,” to read as follows:
BUDGET RESTRICTIONS
§ 3.07.400 Balanced budget requirement
§ 3.07.405 Required reserves
§ 3.07.410 Use of required reserves for financial emergencies
§ 3.07.415 Use of amounts in excess of required reserves
§ 3.07.400 BALANCED BUDGET REQUIREMENT.
For each budget year, budgeted General Fund ongoing expenditures
shall not exceed budgeted ongoing revenues.
§ 3.07.405 REQUIRED RESERVES.
For each budget year, the City’s projected ending General Fund
reserves shall not be less than thirty (30%) percent of budgeted operating
expenditures.
§ 3.07.410 USE OF REQUIRED RESERVES FOR FINANCIAL
EMERGENCIES.
During a financial emergency, as declared by the City Manager and
approved by four-fifths (4/5) vote of the City Council, the City’s General Fund
reserves may be used to balance the budget for a single budget year, provided
that the projected ending General Fund reserves not fall below twenty-five
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(25%) percent of budgeted operating expenditures. The City shall implement
measures to restore the projected ending General Fund reserves to thirty
(30%) percent of budgeted operating expenditures by the budget year
occurring immediately after the budget year in which any such financial
emergency was declared by the City Council. Upon a finding of special
circumstances, the City Council may by four-fifths (4/5) vote approve an
extension to the time period to restore the projected ending General Fund
reserves to thirty (30%) percent of budgeted operating expenditures.
§ 3.07.415 USE OF AMOUNTS IN EXCESS OF REQUIRED RESERVES.
Projected ending General Fund reserves in excess of thirty (30%)
percent of budgeted operating expenditures may be appropriated only for one-
time, non-recurring expenditures that will not increase future operating
expenditures. Any other use of those General Fund reserves exceeding thirty
(30%) percent of budgeted operating expenditures shall require approval by a
four-fifths (4/5) vote of the City Council.
SECTION 2. Pursuant to Section 619 of the Culver City City Charter, this
ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after its adoption. Pursuant to Sections 616
and 621 of the Culver City City Charter, prior to the expiration of fifteen (15) days after
the adoption of this ordinance, the City Clerk shall cause this ordinance, or a summary
thereof, to be published in the Culver City News and shall post this ordinance or a
summary thereof in at least three (3) places within the City.
APPROVED and ADOPTED this day of , 2009
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D. SCOTT MALSIN, Mayor
City of Culver City, California
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
MARTIN R. COLE, CAROL A. SCHWAB,
City Clerk City Attorney
APPENDIX B
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CITY OF CULVER CITY
COUNCIL POLICY STATEMENT Policy Number 5002
General Subject: Finance Date Issued 1/23/1995
Specific Subject: Financial Policies Date Revised 7/16/2007
Effective Date 7/17/2007
Resolution No. 2007-R043
__________________________________________________________________
PURPOSE:
To establish a comprehensive set of financial policies for the City that will serve as a
guideline for operational and strategic decision making related to financial matters.
STATEMENT OF POLICY:
The following financial policies are intended to establish a comprehensive set of
guidelines for use by the City Council and City staff on decision-making that has a
fiscal impact. The goal is to maintain the City’s financial stability in order to be able to
continually adapt to local and regional economic changes. Such policies will allow the
City to maintain and enhance a sound fiscal condition. This policy should be
implemented in conjunction with associated subsidiary policies, i.e. Mission Driven
Budgeting Policy (5001), Purchasing Policy, Investment Policy, Grants Policy, etc.
This financial policy will be reviewed annually to ensure that it remains current. The
policy will be included as part of the City’s annual Adopted Budget. The City’s
comprehensive financial policies shall be in conformance with all state and federal
laws, generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and standards of the
Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and the Government Finance
Officers Association (GFOA).
LONG-TERM FINANCIAL PLANNING
1. The City shall seek a balance in the overall revenue structure between more
stable revenue sources (e.g. Property Tax and Utility Taxes) and economically
sensitive revenue sources (e.g. Sales Tax and Transient Occupancy Tax).
When new revenue sources are proposed, they should be designed to achieve
a desirable balance.
2. The City shall encourage the economic development of the community as a
whole in order to provide stable and increasing revenue streams. It should be
the City’s goal to not only attract new businesses but also to retain successful
businesses in the City. Objectives of the revenue strategy should also include:
avoiding an over reliance on revenue from any one particular industry;
recruitment and retention efforts to ensure a balance of revenue sources;
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ensuring compatible uses; encouraging business synergies; and promoting the
growth of amenities and ancillary services to support business districts and
established industries.
3. The City shall develop and maintain methods for the evaluation of future
development and related fiscal impacts on the City budget.
4. The City shall develop and implement a five-year infrastructure, facilities and
equipment maintenance/replacement plan, which shall be updated annually and
included in the City’s Comprehensive Financial Plan. From this plan a
maintenance and replacement schedule will be developed and followed.
5. The City shall develop and implement a financial plan to address its funding
needs for issues like deferred maintenance and unfunded liabilities, which will
be included in the City’s Comprehensive Financial Plan.
OPERATING BUDGET POLICIES
1. The City Manager shall prepare and present a proposed two-year budget to the
City Council within all statutorily prescribed deadlines. The City Council will
adopt the first year budget with conceptual approval of the second year budget.
A public hearing will be conducted in June of each year to adopt the budget.
2. A Budget Resolution will be adopted by the City Council annually, which
describes the budget amendment process and also specifies budget
amendment authority.
3. All departments will participate in the responsibility of meeting the City’s
financial policy goals and ensure the City’s long-term financial health. Budget
control is maintained at the department level.
4. It is the City’s policy to adopt a balanced budget where operating revenue is
equal to, or exceeds, operating expenditures. In the event a balanced budget is
not attainable, and the cause of the imbalance is expected to last for no more
than one year, the planned use of reserves to balance the budget is permitted.
In the event that a budget shortfall is expected to continue beyond one year, the
planned use of reserves must be developed as part of a corresponding strategic
financial plan to close the gap through revenue increases and/or expenditure
decreases.
5. The operating budget shall serve as the annual financial plan for the City. It
shall serve as the City’s management plan for implementing goals and
objectives of the City Council, City Manager and departments. The budget shall
provide staff the resources necessary to accomplish City Council determined
service levels.
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6. During the annual budget development process, the existing base budget
should be thoroughly examined to assure removal or reduction of any services
or programs that could be eliminated or reduced in cost.
7. The annual review process should include an assessment to determine if funds
are available to operate and maintain proposed capital facilities and other public
improvements. If funding is not available for operations and maintenance costs,
the City will delay construction of new projects.
8. Any year-end operating surpluses will revert to unappropriated balances for use
in maintaining reserve levels set by policy and will be available for capital
projects and/or one-time General Fund expenditures upon approval of the City
Council.
9. Where practical, the City’s annual budget will include performance measures of
workload, efficiency, and effectiveness.
10. The City’s Comprehensive Financial Plan (Plan) is a long-term picture of the
City’s finances and will be updated annually as part of the annual budget
development. The Plan shall include forecasted expenditures and revenues of
at least five (5) years for each fund; however, a ten (10) year forecast is
preferred. The update will include an analysis of any substantial discrepancies
of previous projections.
Revenues:
1. The City will estimate annual General Fund revenues using an objective,
analytical process; specific assumptions will be documented and maintained.
Budgeted revenues will be estimated conservatively using accepted standards
and estimates provided by the state, other governmental agencies, and/or
reliable economic forecasters when available.
2. Specific revenue sources will not be dedicated for specific purposes, unless
required by law or Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). All non-
restricted revenues will be deposited in the General Fund and appropriated
through the budget process.
3. On-going revenues will fund on-going expenditures and a diversified and stable
revenue system will be developed and maintained to protect programs from
short-term fluctuations in any single revenue source.
4. The City shall prepare quarterly reports which discuss revenue projections in
light of actual receipts, and shall provide new projections, as appropriate.
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Appropriations:
1. The City shall, to the extent possible, pay for current year expenditures with
current year revenues. Where authorized activities/equipment remain
incomplete and/or unpurchased, revenues and/or fund balance may be carried
forward at the City Manager's direction to the next fiscal year to support such an
activity/purchase.
2. The City shall avoid budgetary procedures which rely on financial strategies that
defer payment of current operating expenses to future years.
3. Department Heads are responsible for ensuring department expenditures stay
within the department's budgeted appropriation.
4. The City Manager will notify the City Council immediately of the necessity to
increase any departmental appropriation; a budget amendment needs to be
approved by a 4/5
th
vote of the City Council prior to such over-expenditure.
GENERAL FUND RESERVE POLICY
1. It is a goal of the City to maintain a general operating reserve of, at a minimum,
25% of projected General Fund operating expenditures for each fiscal year and
an additional 5% for emergency situations (excluding debt service, fund
transfers, and encumbered funds). These reserves are designed to be used in
the event of a significant financial emergency. Should the General Fund
reserve fall below 30%, the City will implement measures to restore the reserve
percentage to 30% in the following fiscal year.
2. The unreserved portion of General Fund Fund Balances can be loaned to the
Redevelopment Agency or to the Refuse or Sewer Funds for a total amount not
to exceed 50% of the “Unreserved” fund balance shown in the most current
Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).
a. Such loans should be for a term of five years or less and have a call
provision of no more than 120 days. Furthermore, the loan must be secured
by assets such as real property, tax increment fund, or secured by the user
fee and/or other sound funding source.
b. The interest rate for a loan originated by the City will be determined by the
Chief Financial Officer and should be set based on rates of investments
and/or loans with comparable terms on or about the date the loan is
executed.
c. Such loan shall be considered as part of the reserve calculation.
3. The City shall establish, at the beginning of each fiscal year, an "appropriated
reserve" to provide funding for special projects/programs approved by City
Council after the annual budget is adopted, for unanticipated expenditures of a
nonrecurring nature, or to meet unexpected increases in current service
delivery costs. The amount of this reserve will be approved annually by the City
Council.
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4. A portion of any uncommitted fund balance in excess of 30% of annual
revenues resulting from the previous fiscal year’s operations should be
committed to capital improvement projects or should be used to retire existing
debt, fund future liabilities or potential legislative impacts, establish or replenish
equipment replacement funds, and/or establish or replenish deferred
maintenance funds.
5. One-time funds should not be used to fund ongoing City programs. Any one-
time revenue receipt during the fiscal year should be recognized and recorded
in a “non-recurring revenue source” category. One-time revenue windfalls
include: sales of city-owned real estate, CalPERS rebates, lump sum (net
present value) savings from debt restructuring, litigation settlement, unexpected
revenues, and other similar sources of revenue as designated by the City
Council.
6. The City should establish and maintain a designated reserve fund for any
anticipated future expenses that will require a certain level of steady funding
source, i.e. unfunded future retiree medical cost and pension cost. It is prudent
to set aside these funding needs each year in order to maintain City’s financial
stability.
FINANCIAL REPORTING POLICIES
Accounting Standards:
1. The City’s accounting and financial reporting systems shall be maintained in
conformance with all state and federal laws, generally accepted accounting
principles (GAAP) and standards of the Governmental Accounting Standards
Board (GASB) and the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). The
City will make every attempt to implement all changes to governmental
accounting practices at the earliest practicable time.
Annual Audit:
1. An annual audit will be performed by an independent public accounting firm with
an audit opinion to be included with the City’s published Comprehensive Annual
Financial Report (CAFR).
2. The independent firm will be selected through a competitive bidding process at
least once every five years. The contract will be for an initial period of three
years with two additional one-year options at the City Council’s discretion. The
Budget & Finance subcommittee and City Manager will review the qualifications
of prospective firms and make a recommendation to the City Council. The audit
contract, and any extensions, will be awarded by the City Council.
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OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT POLICIES
1. The City shall endeavor to avoid committing to new spending for operating or
capital improvement purposes until an analysis of all current and future cost
implications relating to those programs and projects is completed.
2. All departments will participate in the responsibility of meeting policy goals and
ensuring long-term financial health. Future service plans and program
initiatives will be developed to reflect current policy directives, projected
resources and future service requirements.
3. Departmental requests for increases in staffing will be thoroughly analyzed; only
those that meet adopted program initiatives and policy directives will be
considered. To the extent feasible, personnel cost reductions will be achieved
through attrition.
User Fees and Charges and Development Impact Fees:
1. All non-enterprise user fees and charges will be examined or adjusted annually
to determine the direct and indirect cost of service recovery rate. Where direct
services to users can be measured, the City shall consider use of appropriate
fees, charges or assessments rather than general tax funds.
2. User fees and charges for specialized services shall be established at a level
related to the cost of providing such service except where the City Council has
determined there is a public benefit to subsidize the service with tax based
revenue. The acceptable recovery rate and any associated changes to user
fees and charges will be approved by the City Council following public review.
3. The City shall identify the costs associated with new development as a basis for
establishing development impact fees. The long-term benefit of the
development to the City should be considered in establishing such fees.
Grant Management:
1. The City shall actively pursue federal, state and other grant opportunities when
deemed appropriate. Before accepting any grant, the City shall thoroughly
consider the implications in terms of ongoing obligations that will be required in
connection with acceptance of said grant.
2. The term of Grant funded positions should be clearly identified and presented to
the City Council for approval. It is mandatory to disclose if General Fund
revenues will be needed to fund a position after the Grant expires.
3. Grant funding will be considered to leverage City funds. Inconsistent and/or
fluctuating grants should not be used to fund ongoing programs. Programs
financed with grant monies will be budgeted in separate cost centers, and the
service program will be adjusted to reflect the level of available funding. In the
event of reduced grant funding, City resources may be substituted only after all
program priorities and alternatives are considered.
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4. All externally mandated services for which funding is available shall be fully
costed out, including overhead, to allow for complete reimbursement of
expenses.
Revenue Collection Policy:
1. The City will pursue revenue collection and auditing to assure that monies due
the City are accurately received in a timely manner.
2. The City will seek reimbursement from the appropriate agency for State and
Federal mandated costs whenever possible.
3. The City should centralize accounts receivable/collection activities so that all
receivables are handled consistently.
4. Accounts receivable management and diligent oversight of collections from all
revenue sources are imperative. Sound financial management principles
include the establishment of an allowance for doubtful accounts. Efforts should
be made to pursue the timely collection of delinquent accounts. When such
accounts are deemed uncollectible, they should be written-off from the financial
statements.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT POLICIES
1. Staff shall keep City Council apprised of financial opportunities available to the
City and shall develop appropriate recommendations.
2. All requests for City Council action shall include an analysis of the immediate
and future fiscal impact of such action. No appropriation for new or expanded
programs or staffing levels shall be approved without identifying the amount and
source of available funds.
3. All externally mandated services for which funding is available shall be fully
costed out, including overhead, to allow for complete reimbursement of
expenses.
Cash Management Investment:
1. Cash and investment programs will be maintained in accordance with California
Government Code Section 53600 et seq. and the City’s adopted investment
policy and will ensure that proper controls and safeguards are maintained.
Pursuant to State law, the City, at least annually, revises, and the City Council
affirms, a detailed investment policy.
2. Reports on the City’s investment portfolio and cash position will be developed
and presented to the City Council on a quarterly basis, in conformity with the
California Government Code.
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3. City funds will be managed in a prudent and diligent manner with emphasis on
safety, liquidity, and yield, in that order.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT POLICIES
1. A five-year Capital Improvement Plan must be developed and updated annually,
including anticipated funding sources. Capital improvement projects are
defined as infrastructure or equipment purchases or construction which result in
a capitalized asset and have a useful (depreciable) life of two years or more.
2. The capital improvement plan will identify, where applicable, current operating
maintenance costs and funding streams available to repair and/or replace
deteriorating infrastructure and to avoid significant unfunded liabilities.
3. The City should develop and implement a post-implementation evaluation of its
infrastructures condition on a specified periodic basis, estimating the remaining
useful life, and projecting replacement costs.
4. The City shall actively pursue outside funding sources for all Capital
Improvement Projects. Outside funding sources, such as grants, shall be used
to finance only those Capital Improvement Projects that are consistent with the
five-year Capital Improvement Project and local governmental priorities, and
whose operating and maintenance costs have been included in future operating
budget forecasts.
5. Capital improvement lifecycle costs will be coordinated with the development of
the Operating Budget. Future operating, maintenance and replacement costs
associated with new capital improvements will be forecasted, matched to
available revenue sources, and included in the Operating Budget. Capital
project contract awards will include a fiscal impact statement disclosing the
expected operating impact of the project and when such cost is expected to
occur.
6. The City must carefully seek and analyze the appropriate type of financing
instrument appropriate for financing capital projects. Several options are
available – general obligation debt, fee-supported debt, fund reserves, etc. All
debt financing mechanisms shall be carefully considered and analyzed for fiscal
benefit and cost effectiveness. Long-term borrowing shall be restricted to
projects too large to be financed from current revenues (pay-as-you-go).
Where possible, special assessment, revenue or other self-supporting bonds
shall be used in lieu of general obligation bonds.
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DEBT MANAGEMENT POLICIES
Issuance of Debt:
1. The City will not use long-term debt to pay for on-going operations. The use of
bonds or certificates of participation will only be considered for significant capital
and infrastructure improvements.
2. New debt issues, and refinancing of existing debt, must be analyzed for
compatibility within the City’s overall financial planning within the
Comprehensive Financial Plan. The review shall include, but not be limited to,
cash flow analysis and the maintenance of the City’s bond rating. Annual debt
service shall not produce an adverse impact upon future operations.
3. Debt financing should not exceed the useful life of the infrastructure
improvement with the average (weighted) bond maturities at or below twenty
years.
4. A ratio of current assets to current liabilities of at least 2 to 1 will be maintained
to ensure the City’s ability to pay short-term obligations (i.e. current
assets/current liabilities = 2).
Credit Rating:
1. The City will seek to maintain and, if possible, improve its current bond rating(s)
in order to minimize costs and preserve access to credit.
2. It is the City’s goal to maintain an AAA/Aaa credit rating from all three major
rating agencies. The City may pay the bond insurance which is considered as
part of the rating, however, the rating agency does evaluate the structure of the
bond to validate the bond rating. The factors that contribute to a high rating
include the City’s financial management practices, low debt levels, budgetary
and fiscal controls, and accountability. To support this policy, the City will
continue to maintain its position of full financial disclosure and proactive fiscal
planning.
INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS
Self Insurance Fund:
1. The Self-insurance fund pays for insurance premiums, benefit and settlement
payments, and administrative and operating expenses. It is supported by
charges to other City funds for the services it provides. These annual charges
for service shall reflect the five-year historical experience and shall be set to
equal the annual expenses of the fund.
2. Self-insurance reserves (Liability and Workers’ compensation) will be
maintained at a level which, together with purchased insurance policies,
adequately indemnify the City’s property, liability, and health benefit risk. A
qualified actuarial firm shall be retained on an annual basis in order to
recommend appropriate funding levels, which will be approved by Council. The
City shall endeavor to maintain reserves equal to 30% of the net present value
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of such future liabilities, with no less than $2 million to cover potential swings in
working capital.
Equipment Replacement Fund:
1. The City shall maintain a fund with a sufficient balance for replacement of
vehicles, equipment (including technology and communication equipment)
2. Vehicle replacement will be accomplished through the use of an amortization
methodology structure. The rates will be revised annually to ensure that
charges to operating departments are sufficient for operation and replacement
of vehicles and other capital equipment (fleet, computers, phones, copiers,
etc.). Replacement costs will be based upon equipment lifecycle financial
analysis.
ENTERPRISE FUNDS (Includes Sewer Fund, Refuse Fund and Transportation
Fund)
1. All Enterprise Funds user fees will be examined annually to ensure that they
recover all direct and indirect costs of service, provide for capital improvements
and maintenance, and maintain adequate reserves.
2. Rate increases shall be approved by the City Council following formal noticing
and a public hearing. Rate adjustments for Sewer Fund operations will be
based on five-year financial plans unless the City Council directs otherwise.
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