Page 364 - Ord 866 Adopting a revised Fiscal Year 17-18 and new proposed Fiscal Year 18-19 budget

Section 11 Municipal Policies
Municipal Fiscal & Budgetary Policies

G. Special Revenue/ Educational Funds. Where feasible and practical, General and
Administrative Charges ( G&A) for special revenue and educational funds of the Town of
Westlake will be determined on an annual basis and transfers will be made where sufficient
revenue exists to cover the associated expenditures.

V. EXPENDITURE CONTROL

A. Appropriations – The point of budgetary control is at the department level in the General
Fund and at the fund level in all other funds. When budget adjustments among
Departments and/ or funds are necessary, they must be approved by the Town Council.

B. Current Funding Basis - The Town shall operate on a current funding basis. Expenditures shall
be budgeted and controlled so as not to exceed current revenues plus the planned use of
fund balance accumulated through prior year savings. ( The use of fund balance shall be
guided by the Fund Balance/ Retained Earnings Policy Statements.)

C. Avoidance of Operating Deficits - The Town shall take immediate corrective actions if at
any time during the fiscal year expenditure and revenue re-estimates are such that an
operating deficit ( i.e., projected expenditures in excess of projected revenues) is projected
at year-end. Corrective actions can include a hiring freeze, expenditure reductions, fee
increases, or use of fund balance within the Fund.

D. Balance/ Retained Earnings Policy - Expenditure deferrals into the following fiscal year,
short-term loans, or use of one-time revenue sources shall be avoided to balance the
budget.

E. Maintenance of Capital Assets - Within the resources available each fiscal year, the Town
shall maintain capital assets and infrastructure at a sufficient level to protect the Town's
investment, to minimize future replacement and maintenance costs, and to continue
service levels.

F. Periodic Program Reviews - The Town Manager shall undertake periodic staff and third-
party reviews of Town programs for both efficiency and effectiveness. Privatization and
contracting with other governmental agencies will be evaluated as alternative
approaches to service delivery. Programs which are determined to be inefficient and/ or
ineffective shall be reduced in scope or eliminated.

G. Salary - The Town shall strive to maintain competitive salary levels for municipal
employees. A salary survey will be conducted through a sampling of surrounding
and comparable municipal organizations to create a comparison. The Town will
strive to maintain salary levels within three percent ( 3%) of the median of surveyed
benchmark municipalities.

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