06/19/2012 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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,rr Presented to City Council on Tuesday, June 19, 2012. Request it verbatim in the Council Minutes ~~ From: Dennis M. Lambert It is recommended that a North Olmsted Mayor's Court have a dedicated accounting procedure separated of all other municipal accounting for funds and expenditures. The purpose is to establish the North Olmsted Mayor's Court as an autonomous self funded operation and to further restrict and manage surpluses of revenue by ordinance. The following receivable funds are suaaested: Accounts Receivable Court Fines: By ordinance, court fines collected wiH be restricted for the routine operation of the Court. This shall include but is not limited to office supplies, wages, benefits, a percentage use of City Hall facilities, maintenance, and utilities, and other similar routine occurrences as established by ordinance. Further, surpluses occurring thereafter will be earmarked for Public Safety. ~ Accounts Receivable Court Costs: By ordinance, court costs collected will be restricted to Capital Expenditures of the Court. This will include but is not limited to technology, office machines, special security equipment, major renovations of Court areas and all other special capital expenditures as established by ordinance. Further, surpluses occurring thereafter shall be restricted for the pay down of principal balances of preexisting outstanding city debt in the form of notes and bonds. The surpluses from this account are prohibited from being used to pay for scheduled debt obligations that are already established by the terms of the notes or bonds. The only exception is borrowing for capital expenditures for the Mayor's Court. It is further recommended that the fiscal year for the Mayor's Court begin on June 1, and end on May 31. In compliance with restrictions, the transfer of surpluses identified in Court Accounts thereafter, should be considered at the next regular meeting of the Finance Committee or thereafter, when the committee normally considers City Budget and appropriation ordinances. Final comment: It is the obligation of City Council to restrict and regulate the resources of the City Of North Olmsted. While the Director of Finance may make recommendations, it is the responsibility of Council to control the appropriation of funds by ordinance. Many will agree and I contend that it is irresponsible for ~, unused funds to be place in a "General Fund" and this practice should be avoided when ever possible.