Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Annual Fund Transfers



Managing budgets is an ongoing concern.  In Breezy Point we accomplish monthly financial statements to see how we’re tracking in accordance with budget. In each area of the budget we have line items which are budgeted and monitored.  One line item in each area of operation is designated for capital expenditures.  Generally we see capital items as equipment or construction but they can also be items of larger cost or non-reoccurring expenditures. 

In Breezy Point we manage capital budgeting in ways to minimize the impact to the taxpayer and limit the “use it or lose it” mentality.  Capital funds are requested annually and budgeted for.  The majority of the time the amount requested is for a purchase in that budget year.  Some years there are no or limited anticipated expenditures but funds are budgeted to be used in a future year.  In either event those funds not expended are saved in the Revolving Capital Fund.  This fund has designated uses and provides for balances to be kept individually.  This means that there is an account for police, public works, road improvements, and other uses with individual accounts and balances.  

On an annual basis, at year end, those funds budgeted for capital that are unspent are transferred to the Revolving Capital Fund.  These funds are assigned to their respective accounts so funds are available when expenditures for a replacement or new piece of equipment are needed.  It also provides a fallback position for funding when something comes up that wasn’t budgeted for.  

In keeping with this policy the city transferred funds from the 2012 budget year to the Revolving Capital Fund.  We also transferred some funds back to the 2012 budget for one account that was over budget.  Doing this minimizes the peaks and valleys in budgeting.  It’s like using your savings account to make sure you can cover the bills. In any event funds were moved to provide for the future and keep the city in a healthy financial position.