Commission accepts May financials; $800,000 payment to contractor drives large Focus Group loss

The commission voted to accept its May financial reports after staff outlined account balances and profit-and-loss details showing mixed results across funds.

Mandy, a staff member, reported account balances including the AMP collections general account at $12,543.91, AMP large checking at $389,256.58, AMP small project funds at $657,857.18, AMP general operating checking at $161,191.95, the Focus Group RV park checking at amounts recorded in the packet, the Benton Event Center operating checking at $452,799.35 and a savings account at $522,988.57. She noted that timing of deposits—several May collections posted in early June—affected month-to-month comparisons and that delinquency certifications were pending until 5 p.m.

Jordan, a staff member presenting the commission’s P&L, told the commission the commission-wide May totals showed revenue of roughly $184,137 against expenses of about $154,933, producing net income ahead of budget for the month. For the five-month period ending May 31, commission operating revenue totaled about $91,143.98 with operating expenses of $77,129.67, yielding modest positive net results overall.

The event center’s May results were weaker: Jordan reported May revenue of $34,519.38 and operating expenses of $50,292.17, producing a net loss for the month. Over five months the event center’s revenue was $228,158.73 against operating expenses of $219,287.10; however, capital spending on a lighting control system of nearly $67,000 produced an overall five-month net loss of about $57,862.45.

The Focus Group’s P&L showed a major outlay: Jordan said an $800,000 payment to Garrett Excavating for the RV project was recorded, which substantially increased reported losses for that fund. "So that obviously made the net loss quite large," he said.

After discussion, a motion to accept the financial reports was made, seconded and approved by voice vote. The approved reports will be reflected in the commission’s financial records and in the posted packet.

What’s next: staff indicated timing irregularities related to deposits and some late payments will likely normalize in the June reporting cycle; no further action on the capital or contractor payments was taken at this meeting.