Palatka commissioners press staff for sortable budgets and separate accounts for TIF, ARPA and airport funds

Palatka’s City Commission pressed staff on April 8 for clearer budget reporting and stronger fund segregation as the city prepares a 2026–27 budget.

Finance Director Miss Pierre opened the workshop by describing zero‑based budgeting and urging the commission to select a theme and priorities for the coming year. Commissioners immediately pressed for more usable reporting: Commissioner Davis asked for an uneditable but sortable Excel workbook with each fund (general, Better Place, TIF, ARPA) available as separate downloads so commissioners can filter, sort and trace line items.

The request followed frustrations with a 70‑plus page PDF the commission said is hard to navigate. Miss Pierre confirmed the ERP system produces the report and staff currently exports it; she agreed to provide working spreadsheets and a summarized executive version for meetings. "Give every dollar a name," Miss Pierre said when explaining the zero‑based approach; commissioners said they need the working files to follow that approach.

Commissioners also sought clarity about bank accounts. Staff reported the airport fund had been moved into a separate interest‑bearing account and said ARPA and CRA/TIF accounts are held separately; commissioners asked staff to verify the number of TIF accounts (commissioners noted three TIF districts) and deliver a breakout of cash accounts before the next workshop.

The commission asked finance to justify transfers between funds and to annotate transfers (transfers in and transfers out) so commissioners can confirm restricted funds are not being used for unrelated purposes. Commissioner Davis flagged a line‑item example and said commissioners will expect explanations for transfers such as the reported "transfer from TIF to Better Place."

Staff committed to producing a secured, sortable workbook and a concise project summary for circulation before the next meeting, and to improving public‑facing summaries so residents can see what projects are underway and how funds are used.