Latest news with #GeneralFund
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
City Council begins 2026 budget process
Jun. 3—During its work session Monday night, the Austin City Council took the first steps toward its 2026 budget with Director of Administrative Services Tom Dankert laying out the timeline for the process as well as a request for direction from the council on where best to focus their efforts. While nothing definitive is decided in these very early steps, Dankert did lay out a trio of questions for council to consider, which include staffing levels, fund balance usage and the 2026 tax levy. Pertaining to the first question, the city is looking at an estimated increase in employee investment of a little over $1.185 million and includes wages and benefits, though Dankert in his presentation pointed out that the estimate does not include changes due to Compensation and Classification re-evaluations. He also pointed out that all eight of the city's bargaining unit contracts will expire on Dec. 31. Point two is asking council members to keep in mind its staffing as it pertains to General Fund expenditures. 2024 expenditures accounted for 49% or just over $10.4 million, which falls just outside of the city's internal police of 42-48% of expenditures, but the Minnesota Office of State Auditor advises cities to stay within the 35-50% range. Putting this into context, new staff would require permanent funding which would have an impact on the budget and could create issues if that funding isn't there. Finally, the third question brought into play three areas that could have impacts one way or the other regarding the 2026 tax levy. The first is a spot of good news in that the Flats on 21 apartment complex no longer has access to tax abatements after it expires this year, which will add $48,000 of new tax base to the city books. However, at the same time the city — like every other governmental entity — will have to consider the impacts of inflationary costs regarding things like materials, vehicles, utilities and more. Further complicating the process is that the State Legislature has thus far failed to clear its own budget, bringing into play a likely special section to get it sorted out. Further adding to this is that one version of the state's budget included a possible reduction in Local Government Aid of approximately $300,000. This will impart a level of uncertainty in the City Council's work as any work done between now and the finalization of the budget could be impacted depending on what they do at the state level. Even though the council didn't make any concrete recommendations regarding the budget Monday night, it did hold a discussion and vote on the possibility of creating a budget committee that Council Member Jason Baskin argued could help the council stay on top of the process throughout in a timely fashion. Ultimately, it failed by a vote of 4-2 (Baskin had to leave before the vote) with some members fearing the optics of doing work behind closed doors, even though ideas would still be brought to regular council meetings for public conversation as the whole council. Council Members Mike Postma and Jeff Austin voted in favor of it while Rebecca Waller, Paul Fischer, Oballa Oballa and Laura Helle voted against. Still, the conversation did prompt the idea of holding more council meetings during the process that would maintain the spirit of what Baskin proposed. As for the timeline itself, department heads will receive budget documents and direction by June 16 and are expected to return those documents by July 11. Further budget refinement will take place with the council following that with a goal of setting a proposed tax levy and preliminary budget at the Sept. 15 meeting. State law requires these figures to be approved by Sept. 30. The Truth in Taxation Hearing will take place sometime between Nov. 25 and Dec. 12 with the final adoption slated for Dec. 15.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Palmer Lake lawsuit alleges mismanagement in finances and civic participation
(EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.) — An array of organizations and individuals are raising questions about the integrity of leadership in Palmer Lake, with some alleging suppression of civic participation, mishandling of funds, and disregard for open meeting laws ahead of the Buc-ee's annexation hearing on Thursday, May 29. A lawsuit, from two individuals who live in Palmer Lake, alleges the town has misused public funds and falsified reports to obtain $1.3 million in state and federal dollars. The complaint also states that the town administrators allegedly diverted grant funds into the municipal water utility. According to the lawsuit, there were various instances where funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, Fixing America's Surface Transportation, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and more were misused. The lawsuit further alleges that Dawn Collins, the appointed Town Administrator, 'did not understand the legal status of the Town's Water Enterprise and the distinction between it and the Town's General Fund' and had the two individuals become concerned that Collins had 'fraudulently created municipal financial statements and recordings.' 'We spent nearly three years trying to help the Town recognize and correct basic financial red flags,' said Marty Brodzik, a Palmer Lake citizen and co-relator in the fraud case. 'Instead of fixing the issues, they ignored us. Then the accounting firm quit, the auditor quit, the financial clerk quit—and the Town still did nothing. Our hope now is that the weight of this lawsuit will help level the field for the citizens attending the upcoming hearing.' The lawsuit further alleges that the city only has one bank account, even though the city's Municipal Code requires the annual budget to provide for revenues and expenditures into four separate funds for the Conservation Trust Fund, Water Enterprise Fund, the Water Enterprise Capital Improvement Fund, and the General Fund. Collins managed both the General Fund and Water Enterprise; however, the lawsuit states the General Fund's monthly checks register failed to identify missing checks, including those that were voided, voided and reissued, or issued and never entered. The lawsuit further alleges that the Water Enterprise fund revenues were misused. When asked, the Town of Palmer Lake sent the following statement: '…Now that this is a matter subject to pending litigation, the Town has no comment except to note that the assertions by the complainants appear to relate primarily to how funds received by the Town and expended for public purposes were allocated and accounted for in the Town's financial records. The Town's financial records are audited each year by independent auditors. Each year the auditors have issued the Town an audit opinion that the Town's financial statements in all material respects were in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The auditors routinely provide recommendations for improvement with which the Town has always complied.' Dawn Collins, Town of Palmer Lake Town Administrator Read the full lawsuit here: Palmer-Lake-TRO-Petition-Posting-Final-2Download Separate from the fraud case, Integrity Matters and various Palmer Lake community members have also filed a temporary restraining order looking to remove a publicly posted petition from the Town's website that contained full names, addresses, and partially visible signatures. According to court documents, various community members and petition circulators emailed the Town to redact or remove their personal information, and the Clerk had allegedly refused most requests. On May 21, the city refused to make any more redactions or remove the petition. The temporary restrictions order would immediately direct the town to remove all publicly posted petition documents containing personally identifying information from its website. Another temporary restraining order also asked the town to relocate the May 29 annexation eligibility as the current venue has allegedly excluded dozens and fails to meet the standards of the Open Meetings Law and the Municipal Annexation Act. 'Our hope,' said Integrity Matters Chief Legal Counsel, Kat Gayle, 'is that these developments—including the new lawsuit—finally push the Mayor and the Trustees facing recall to confront the truth: this is not how responsible government behaves.' FOX21 News has reached out to the Palmer Lake Mayor and is awaiting comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Legislative task force seeks alternative funding sources for Alabama courts
Members of the Cost Cost Task Force gather to discuss ongoing issues with court-imposed fines and fees at the Alabama Supreme Court on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Ralph Chapoco/Alabama Reflector) A group of judges, legislators and agency staff will explore ways to fund the state's court system in lieu of relying on fines and fees imposed by the courts. Members of the Court Cost Task Force convened the first meeting on Monday at the Alabama Supreme Court to review possible alternative funding streams to pay expenses for a court system that has been chronically underfunded. 'Most court costs, which you will see in just a minute, are going to non-court entities,' said Sarah Hicks Stewart, chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, who presided over the meeting. 'By that, I mean non-judicial branch people. The vast majority of court costs are not going to court.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Non-court entities are receiving their funding from the fines imposed by the courts that are not tied to the state's criminal legal system, Stewart said. The group plans to issue a report near the start of the 2026 legislative session in January outlining recommendations to the Legislature to mitigate the issues that arise when courts impose fines and fees on individuals who need access to the courts. Courts receive a significant portion of their operational expenses from fines and fees that judges impose. But the revenues collected go to pay for programs that are not necessarily tied to the court system. Revenues that are disbursed to agencies are also not enough to cover the full cost of operating and must rely on other sources. Fines and fees also disproportionately affect the state's most vulnerable populations. According to data obtained from the Alabama State Bar website, courts collected about $480 million from court fines and fees imposed by the courts. Of that, about $26.5 million went on to pay for expenses for court operations. The majority, about $312 million or 67%, went to third parties. Some of it is in the form of restitution for criminal cases. About $160 million went to judgments while another $118 million was disbursed toward the Alabama Central Disbursement Division Child Support Unit to process child support payments. Almost $1.5 million went toward child support payments. About $126 million are disbursed to non-court expenses, such as the General Fund budget, which receives money from sales taxes from the internet. According to the Alabama State Bar Association's website, the General Fund budget receives almost $75 million of the fines and fees that are paid to the courts. There are also disparities in the fines and fees that courts impose that people will pay depending on the county. Constitution Act 96 is supposed to prohibit the Alabama Legislature from enacting any laws 'regulating costs and charges of courts, or fees, commissions or allowances of public officers' to specific counties and not all the counties in the state. But fines and fees imposed on people by courts differ depending on the county because local officials convince state lawmakers to sponsor legislation to impose additional costs that fund different programs within those counties. 'Our Legislature is very clever to figure out that if they have a local act with statewide constitutional implications, then they could trump that statewide constitutional Act 96,' Stewart said. 'That is how they are all presented now, something that the state votes on as constitutional amendments, and that is how the local acts are continuing to get passed.' An increasing number of bills get enacted that increase the filing fees which then pose problems for people who require access to the criminal justice system. 'You have got the filing fees that are collected upfront with civil filings,' Stewart said. 'We have some places in which that number is so high right now that it is really becoming an access to justice issue for people who can afford to file something with that particular county.' Collecting payments on civil filings is easier because they are imposed on the front end, before individuals may access court. A larger problem is collecting payments for criminal cases when the court orders fines and fees, as well as restitution payments shortly after a case has been adjudicated. Brenda Ganey, the clerk of courts for Baldwin County, estimated that courts collect about 22% of the fines and fees that courts impose on defendants after they violate the law. 'To me, the low hanging fruit in all this is, how do we increase the 22% of collections, because that is money sitting there right now that, no matter what you change, no matter what you make uniform across the board, we are leaving 78% of potential money,' said Rep. Chris Blackshear, R-Smiths Station, vice chair of the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee and who attended the meeting. J. Langford Floyd, a former judge who helped Stewart with the research, said that would be 'blood out of a turnip.' 'Usually your criminal defendants are your lower income to no income people,' he said. 'They are also the 20,000 that are sitting in the state penitentiary that have no way to pay it, and don't really care about paying as long as they are in the state penitentiary.' 'If there could be some incentive for the defendant to pay what they owe, then that would make collection easier,' said Robert E. Wilters, the vice president of the Alabama District Attorneys Association. Legislators such as Blackshear and Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, said that additional revenue options, such as raising taxes, were not an option they would consider. 'Why is it so difficult to do what is right,' Blackshear said. 'And that is to not break the law. Don't do the crime. That is the simple solution.' The group will meet again during the summer to further discuss ideas. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Epoch Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
State Economists Nudge Oregon's Economic Forecast Down
Oregon's economy could be characterized by sluggish growth and higher unemployment for the coming years, according to the state's Although the state will take in record revenue in the 2025-2027 biennium—up 12 percent from the 2023-25 biennium—it will be significantly less than had been predicted just three months ago. The state is still expected to have billions more to spend in the next two-year budget than it did for the current one. The ending balance for the current biennium has been revised downward by $162.3 million, and projected General Fund revenue for the 2025-27 biennium has decreased by $337 million, according to the Office of Economic Analysis. The 2023-25 decrease is primarily due to decreases in personal and corporate income taxes, the report says. 'It is not a recession; let me be abundantly clear about that,' said the state's chief economist Carl Riccadonna, speaking to lawmakers on May 14. 'Nonetheless, it is the type of slow growth that will allow the unemployment rate to drift higher.' Related Stories 9/1/2022 8/8/2023 Oregon's unemployment rate for April currently sits at 4.7 percent, while the national average rests at 4.2 percent. Riccadonna put the odds of recession at 25 percent. The report's authors repeatedly express uncertainty about their findings. 'The Office of Economic Analysis has diminished confidence in the central forecast as a result of pending policy decisions which are expected to have substantial economic consequences for growth, employment, inflation and financial markets—all of which are critical variables driving the compilation of our revenue forecast.' Democratic lawmakers were quick to blame Trump policies for a possible downturn, specifically citing tariffs. Republicans emphasized that the state will still collect record revenue and pointed to Democratic policies for any economic downturn. 'A double-digit increase in Oregon's budget is real growth which legislators must spend wisely to fund the core functions of our state,' wrote House Republican Leader Christine Drazan in a statement. 'This increase could have been greater if it weren't for Oregon's highest in the nation taxes, aggressive regulatory environment, and public policy choices that harmed our economic engine,' she added. Democrats have had a 'trifecta,' in the state since 1992. The Democratic Party currently controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, attorney general, and both chambers of the state Legislature. Call it Chaos 'While the Trump Administration spreads uncertainty in our economy and our social safety net, I refuse to let Oregon be knocked off of our game,' 'We know the problems we need to solve here at home regardless of the chaos coming out of Washington, D.C.' She went on to identify those problems as homelessness, a housing shortage, a dearth of medical care, underperforming schools, and cost-of-living increases in the state. In this year's budget request, Kotek had pressed for more than $800 million to bolster housing and homelessness, $246 million for the state's behavioral health system, and $200 million for education. She said she is ready to 'make hard budget choices and address our challenges head on, despite the dampening of economic growth.' Democratic Senate President Rob Wagner joined the governor in calling out the president's policies. 'Oregon's economy is greatly reliant on our international trading partners, and it is clear the tariffs and chaos from the federal administration is making it harder for businesses to plan and slowing economic growth,' Wagner wrote. 'With this forecast, we are starting to see real impacts to businesses, workers, and state revenues.' But the report's authors also acknowledge that the forecast was written 'in the midst of bilateral trade negotiations,' which it said 'showed signs of promise.' Attorney General Dan Rayfield said the economic forecast reinforces the need for the multi-state lawsuit against the Trump Administration tariffs. 'These tariffs are not just policy missteps—they're doing real damage to the state, Oregon families, workers, and small businesses,' Rayfield wrote. 'Tariffs were imposed without proper oversight or consideration for the long-term harm they would cause. That's why we filed this lawsuit—to push back against federal overreach and protect the stability of Oregon's economy.' To date, Rayfield has participated in more than 16 lawsuits against the Trump Administration. Blaming the Trifecta Republicans said the sky isn't falling, and that Democratic policies have hurt Oregon's economy. 'Democrats have taxed, regulated, and micromanaged this state into decline—and now they want to point the finger at Washington,' wrote Republican Rep. Dwayne Yunker in a statement to the media. 'The real problem is right here in Salem.' A number of 'If we want to see our state budgets grow, we shouldn't raise taxes, we should cut them,' noted Leader Drazan. The real issue isn't revenue, added Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham. 'It's the stagnant economy created by years of Democrat policies,' he wrote. Bonham cited 'Oregon's anti-business climate, high taxes, and housing restrictions—especially over the last six years with the hidden sales tax and Portland's layered income-based taxes,' which he said are 'strangling opportunity.' 'Key industries like manufacturing and construction are shedding jobs, while government and subsidized sectors continue to grow. Business and wealth are fleeing Portland, and the damage is spreading statewide,' he added. While Democrats point fingers at tariffs and federal uncertainty, he said 'Oregon's economic decline began long ago.' Business Environment Oregon ranked 48th out of 50 states for 'Business Friendliness' in 'CNBC's In a study across nearly every industry in the state, the University of Oregon's (UO's) Institute for Policy Research and Engagement More than two-thirds of those either expanded their presence outside of Oregon or packed up and moved. Many said that they were already considering relocation prior to being courted. 'Survey data indicate the state has lost thousands of potential jobs and billions of potential private investments in the past five years and is poised to lose even more in the next five years,' the report states. A concerning number of businesses indicated they were choosing to expand outside of Oregon due to 'an unfavorable business climate.' 'Oregon's businesses have mixed perceptions about Oregon's business environment. While some view the state as a good place to do business, others cite high taxes, regulatory challenges, and social issues like homelessness and crime as significant drawbacks. This is particularly true with manufacturing and tech firms,' the UO report added. Between June 2023 and June 2024, Oregon ranked 45th in manufacturing growth, It also ranks among the bottom 10 states for job growth in other sectors, including construction and professional and business services. OBI identified specific issues that state policymakers could 'These include the scarcity of developable land, the state's tax environment and the expense of living here.' Strengthening Oregon's manufacturing sector would generate big dividends, according to OBI. 'A 10 percent increase in Oregon's manufacturing output would add $7 billion to the state's gross domestic product, support nearly 51,000 new jobs and generate an additional $4.2 billion in personal income. 'This would produce more than $850 million in new state and local revenue,' the report stated.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fiscal court discusses budget, agreement with city
A first reading of the county budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year was conducted at the Laurel County Fiscal Court's meeting Monday morning. The funds, which are subject to change before official adoption at the next meeting, are as follows: General Fund — $17,227,565 Road Fund — $5,698,780 Jail Fund — $13,841,000 LGEA — $37,020 Forest — $9,003 Occupational Tax Fund — $8,216,324 Opioid Settlement — $1,083,000 LOPC — $6,502 County Clerk Storage Funds — $176,060 These funds come to a grand total of $46,295,254. The motion to approve the reading was made by Magistrate Jeff Book. Also discussed at the meeting was the agreement between the city and county regarding the London-Laurel County 911 Communications Center. Judge-Executive David Westerfield requested that the agreement be extended for three months to give himself and the magistrates adequate time to review it before submission as it would have been due June 15, and submission is required 30 days in advance. The magistrates approved the extension. Magistrates additionally approved the MOA (memorandum of agreement) and resolution regarding Durango One, LLC — a business which will be located in the spec building near Ison & Co. Both the monthly financial report and accounts payables were approved with no discussion, following motions by Magistrate John Crawford which received unanimous support. Judge Westerfield then shared that he found a 2017 F350 truck from the state to replace another which is having engine-related issues. The purchase of the truck, in the amount of $70,500, was approved by each of the magistrates following a motion by Bobby Overbay. The cash transfer report included $2,170 from General Fund to Jail Fund — U.S. Marshals Service, and $5,941.44 from General Fund to Jail Fund — U.S. Treasury ICE. The meeting came to adjournment following the report. The Laurel County Fiscal Court regularly meets at 8:45 a.m. on the second Monday and 9:30 a.m. on the final Thursday of each month. The next meeting will take place Thursday, May 29. NOTE: This article has been updated to clarify that the LGEA budget is $37,020.
