San Angelo's City Council will hear the results of annual financial audit of city finances in its meeting tomorrow morning. There will an opportunity for public comment after a presentation by the city's auditor. That will be difficult as the financial audit is not included in the meeting background packet, nor is it posted on the city's website.
City staff included the audit in the meeting background packet in 2019. It has not made the financial audit available for the last three years.
The city has been growing its various buckets of money for future projects. The audit is an opportunity for Council to highlight the funds at its disposal. From 2019 to 2021 the net position of the Water Department grew from $153.3 million to $182 million.
Total net position in the Sewer Fund grew from $56.6 million in 2019 to $74.5 million in 2021. A citizen concerned about ongoing high water and sewer bills would not be able to see the 22FY end balances of these accounts as the document is not available.
The CAFR states:
This financial report is designed to provide our citizens, taxpayers, customers, investors, and creditors with a general overview of the City's finances and to show the City's accountability for the money it receives.
City staff don't like to fulfill public information requests, yet officials avoid including information in public background packets. It's not a new development.
Update 5-4-23: Mayor Gunter asked for public comment on "this particular audit and the information attached." The agenda packet had no information attached so it's no surprise there was no public comment.
Staff went on to present an incremental $13.4 million borrowing for the Hickory well field expansion. The Mayor questioned how the city will pay for this additional debt. Had the financial audit presented the current Water Fund net position that would have been clear. Once the 2022 CAFR is actually available to the public I will share that figure.
Update 5-23-23: City Council will conduct its first strategic planning session on Friday. Staff published an agenda for the meeting but there is no agenda packet available.
Update 6-12-23: The 2022 CAFR is now available to the public on the city's website.
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