How the Math is Mathing: An Ongoing Series

Written By Bianca Motley Broom

In FY 2025–26, each member of the governing body has been allocated $900,000 in community enhancement funds—$500,000 designated for capital projects and $400,000 for non-capital expenditures.

Unlike the formal budgeting process undertaken by staff, where every dollar is tied to a specific line item, my colleagues and I did not go through that level of detail when these enhancement funds were allocated. As a result, some of the items being funded through these accounts are appearing for the first time on the consent agenda without any prior public discussion.

To ensure you have a real opportunity to weigh in on how these public funds are used (especially given the recent changes to the public comment policy), I believe any community enhancement expenditure not specifically identified in the adopted budget should appear in the Regular Business section of the agenda, not the Consent Agenda.

As this fiscal year continues, I will provide updates detailing how your community enhancement dollars are being spent. You deserve to know where and how your tax dollars are being invested.

You can see how community enhancement funds have been spent since the beginning of the fiscal year, from July 1st through October 6, 2025 by clicking here.

I will continue to supplement this information as I receive additional ledgers.

I’ve also added information about discretionary funds and meetings and travel expenses, so you can see how those funds are being spent as well.

(Note: there is some overlap in the earlier information as I changed the parameters of my requests.)

I have also received questions about our overall spending. You can see all of the payments the city has made in this fiscal year below. I will also update these records as I receive them.

Bianca Motley Broom
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