Council to consider codifying limited budget-transfer authority for city manager (up to $50,000 intra-fund)

City staff explained a proposed resolution to codify and clarify what the city manager may authorize for budget amendments. The proposal would allow the city manager to approve intra-fund transfers up to $50,000 (and smaller department-level transfers starting at $10,000) provided the transfers remain in the same fund and do not draw from fund balance. Staff said cross-fund transfers and fund-balance uses would still require council approval.

Staff gave examples of recent operational transfers (e.g., $2,500 for employee physicals; $27,000 for building maintenance) and said adopting the resolution would reduce the number of non-controversial, small amendments brought to council. The city manager would provide a quarterly report to council summarizing transfers authorized under the policy. The committee agreed the item will be placed on the next council agenda for formal consideration.