Jackson City finance committee orders projections using six months of actuals; administration to deliver line-by-line budget details

Jackson City Council’s finance committee on Wednesday directed the administration to prepare a budget amendment based on year-to-date 2026 figures and to present a clear timeline and line-item details ahead of an expected amendment before July. Chairwoman Clay opened the meeting saying the council will ‘‘examine the information provided . . . and work toward amending our budget’’ and instructed staff to ‘‘use the six months that we’ve gotten this year . . . and project forward’’ rather than rely chiefly on prior-year totals (Chairwoman Clay).

Why it matters: Finance staff told the committee the packet uses FY25 revenues and expenses to inform proposed adjustments, but members said they want projections built from current-year actuals so the council can see realistic revenue and spending through the rest of the fiscal year. ‘‘Use what you’ve actually taken in for those six months . . . and project forward,’’ Clay said, adding that the council needs the projections and a calendar for May through August so the final amendment reflects real-time receipts and expenses.

What the administration will deliver: Brandon Jackson, the city’s finance manager, and Jillian Caldwell, the CFO, said they will provide the requested reports, including division-level expense breakdowns and corrected account allocations. Jackson explained the packet shows transfers in from other funds—one-time items such as a Zurich settlement—that staff have parked in contingency accounts so departments cannot spend them until the council directs otherwise. ‘‘We transferred some of the funds from the Zurich and to the general fund,’’ Jackson said, noting operating transfers are not recurring revenue.

CAO Peter Taberson told the committee administrators will also supply a bond-payment schedule and a list of recommended process improvements. Taberson said staggered obligations, such as heavier bond payments later in the fiscal year, mean the second half’s spending profile differs from the first. He also urged the council to consider revenue-growth ideas, including new approaches to collecting fees tied to streaming and strengthened permitting procedures.

Cuts, efficiencies and staffing: Taberson said the administration has identified about 33 positions for further review as potential redundancies and will present those recommendations next week. He said department directors will review cell-phone assignments and vehicle usage; his office has drafted new vehicle policies and an accident-review board for usage oversight. ‘‘All department directors were requested or directed to review the cell phone usage within their department,’’ Taberson said.

Transparency and auditing: Council members pushed for clearer reporting on money moved between accounts and asked for monthly in-person or regular working sessions on the budget. Taberson confirmed the auditor is engaged and the city is working to catch up two years of audits; he and the CFO said they can reformat monthly reports and provide more transparent displays of where contingency or category moves have been made.

Next steps: The finance team will prepare a timeline and the requested reports—including a bond schedule, line-by-line code enforcement and demolition funding breakdown, and corrected account allocations for streetlights—and return to the committee ahead of a planned amendment. The committee did not vote on any motion during Wednesday’s session.