Page 389 - City of Westlake FY20 Budget
P. 389

Section 11 Municipal Policies
                                                          Municipal Fiscal & Budgetary Policies


                     H.  Central Control: Modifications within the operating categories (salaries, supplies, maintenance,
                         services, capital, etc.) can be made with the approval of the Town Manager.  Modifications to
                         reserve categories and interdepartmental budget totals will be made only by Town Council
                         consent with formal briefing and Council action.

                     I.  Planning: The budget process will be coordinated so as to identify major policy issues for Town
                         Council by integrating it into the Council’s overall strategic planning process for the Town.  Each
                         department shall have a multi-year business plan that integrates with the Town’s overall
                         strategic plan.

                     J.  Reporting: Monthly financial reports will be prepared by the Finance Department and
                         distributed to and reviewed by each Director.  Information obtained from financial reports and
                         other operating reports is to be used by Directors to monitor and control departmental budget.
                         Summary financial reports will be presented to the Town Council quarterly.

                     K.  Performance Measures & Productivity Indicators: Where appropriate, performance measures
                         and productivity indicators will be used as guidelines to measure efficiency, effectiveness, and
                         outcomes of Town services.  This information will be included in the annual budget process as
                         needed.

                     L.  Contingent Appropriation: During the budget process, staff will attempt to establish an
                         adequate contingent appropriation in each of the operating funds.  The expenditure for this
                         appropriation shall be made only in cases of emergency, and a detailed account shall be
                         recorded and reported.  The proceeds shall be disbursed only by transfer to departmental
                         appropriation.  All transfers from the contingent appropriation will be evaluated using the
                         following criteria:
                         •  Is the request of such an emergency nature that it must be made immediately?
                         •  Why was the item not budgeted in the normal budget process?
                         •  Why can’t the transfer be made within the department?

               IV.   REVENUES MANAGEMENT
                     A.  Revenue Design Parameter:  The Town will pursue the following optimum characteristics in its
                         revenue system:

                         •  Simplicity - The Town, where possible and without sacrificing accuracy, will strive to keep the
                            revenue system simple in order to reduce costs, achieve transparency, and increase citizen
                            understanding of Town revenue sources.

                         •  Certainty - A knowledge and understanding of revenue sources reliability increases the
                            viability of the revenue system.  The Town will understand, to the best of its ability, all aspects
                            of its revenue sources and their performance, as well as enact consistent collection policies to
                            provide assurances that the revenue base will materialize according to budgets, forecasts, and
                            plans.





                                                             377
   384   385   386   387   388   389   390   391   392   393   394