Fiscal Note
The adopted 2016 Operating Budget includes $400,000 for prior year encumbrances. Since actual encumbrances at the end of 2015 totaled $634,257, the difference of $234,257 must be released from the Contingent Reserve. The 2016 adopted budget included a $1.2 million contingent reserve. This resolution would decrease the total Contingent Reserve to $913,573, including expenditures from the contingent reserve associated with previously approved and pending resolutions. There is no impact on the tax levy or State Expenditure Restraint Program eligibility limits.
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SUBSTITUTE Allocating funds appropriated in the 2016 Operating Budget for prior year encumbrances to match actual carry forward encumbrances in various departmental accounts and decreasing the Contingent Reserve by $234,257.
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PREAMBLE
In governmental accounting terminology, encumbrances are outstanding purchase orders and other contractual commitments for expenditures that have been incurred but not yet paid. Any encumbrances that remain open at the end of the budget year must be paid and charged to expense in the subsequent year. Governmental accounting rules require that such expenses be charged against the adopted budget when prior-year encumbrances are paid.
The City of Madison currently includes a $400,000 appropriation for prior-year encumbrances as part of the annually adopted budget. By including an appropriation for the estimated amount of prior-year encumbrances in the adopted budget, the need for an additional appropriation at a later date is substantially reduced. Any difference between the estimated and actual carry forward encumbrances can be appropriated from, or returned to, the Contingent Reserve.
For fiscal 2015, actual prior-year encumbrances were more than the $400,000 budgeted, and the Contingent Reserve balance was decreased by $221,890 in that year.
WHEREAS, the 2016 Adopted Budget includes an appropriation for estimated Prior-Year Encumbrances o...
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