HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 2023-28 RESOLUTION NO. 2023-28
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
HUNTINGTON BEACH ADOPTING A REVISED GENERAL FUND
RESERVE POLICY
WHEREAS the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach is charged
with the responsibility of establishing municipal policies to guide the various functions of the
City, and where necessary, establishing procedures by which functions are performed; and
The City Council desires to adopt a revised General Fund Reserve Policy as set forth in
Exhibit A; Exhibit A is attached and incorporated by reference; and
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach does resolve as
follows:
SECTION 1: That all of the above recitals are true and correct.
SECTION 2: That attached as Exhibit A and incorporated by reference is Council
Policy for General Fund Reserves.
SECTION 3: The City Manager, the Chief Financial Officer, the City Clerk and other
appropriate officials of the City are hereby authorized and directed to take any actions and
execute and deliver any and all documents as are necessary to accomplish the provisions and
directives of this Resolution.
SECTION 4: This Resolution shall take effect upon its adoption by this City Council.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach at a
regular meeting thereof held on the 26th day of June , 2023.
Mayor
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City Manager NW Ci• Attorney
INITIATED AND APPROVED:
Acting C ancial Officer
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Nt;N�,o Exhibit A Resolution No. 2023-28
, City of Huntington Beach Exhibit"A"
Fund Balance Policy
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GENERAL FUND BALANCE
The General Fund is the main operating fund that pays for general services provided by the
City, such as public safety, parks, and public works. The General Fund accounts for all
general revenues of the City and for expenditures related to the rendering of the City's
general services. The General Fund is considered to have a high level of risk to operations
due to its dependence on revenue streams that are susceptible to economic downturns and
revenue reduction impacts from outside agency actions. In addition, the General Fund is the
main funding source when responding to unexpected events or emergencies. Consideration
of potential risk and other drivers influence the targeted minimum level of total Economic
Uncertainties Fund Balance that should be maintained. The Government Finance Officers
Association (GFOA) recommends a minimum of two months of operating expenditures be
set aside for unforeseen events. The City desires to maintain a prudent level of reserves
based on the revenue impacts described above and the City's desire to maintain strong bond
ratings to minimize borrowing costs.
❑ There is an established Economic Uncertainties Reserve commitment in the General
Fund. The monetary goal of this commitment is equal to the value of two months of the
General Fund expenditure adopted budget amount.
❑ Appropriations from the Economic Uncertainties Reserve commitment can only be made
by with a 6/7th vote of the City Council. Generally, appropriations and access to these
funds will be reserved for emergency situations. Examples of such emergencies include,
but are not limited to:
• An unplanned, major event such as a catastrophic disaster requiring
expenditures over 5% of the General Fund adopted budget
• Budgeted revenue in excess of$1 million taken by another government entity
• Drop in projected/actual revenue of more than 5% of the General Fund adopted
revenue budget
❑ The Economic Uncertainties Reserve will not be accessed to fund new programs or
personnel.
❑ Should the Economic Uncertainties Reserve commitment be used and its level falls
below the minimum amount of two months of General Fund expenditures adopted
budget, the Chief Financial Officer will bring forward a proposed plan to City Council to
replenish the fund within three fiscal years as soon as practicable .
❑ In addition to the Economic Uncertainties Reserve, there are three permanent reserves
established generally for the purposes described below. Appropriations from these
reserves can only be made by formal City Council action. These permanent reserves
are:
• Equipment Replacement Reserve for the acquisition of rolling stock, other
movable assets, pumps, engines, and any equipment needed to sustain City
infrastructure. Planned appropriations from this fund are identified during the
annual budget process. The replenishment of this Reserve is outlined below.
• Capital Improvement Reserve for the construction or improvement of City
infrastructure. Planned appropriations from this fund are identified during the
annual budget process in concert with the Capital Improvement Plan or during
the fiscal year as needed. The replenishment of this Reserve is outlined below.
• Litigation Reserve for unforeseen litigation losses exceeding the amount
budgeted in the current year. The monetary goal for this Reserve is generally set
Exhibit A
City of Huntington Beach
;, 4 Fund Balance Policy
9�cF�pumTvc;` � at the City's self-insured limit. This fund will be replenished each year through
the annual budget process or during the fiscal year as needed.
❑ The initial allocation of audited available unassigned fund balance will go towards
reducing the City's unfunded liabilities (per the Unfunded Accrued Liability Pension
Funding Policy), long-term debt obligations and improving City infrastructure. The
allocation of the remaining audited General Fund unassigned fund balance, if any, (or
increases in the Economic Uncertainties Reserve) will be done as follows if, and until,
the Economic Uncertainties Reserve commitment is fully funded (i.e., two months of
General Fund expenditures):
• 50% to Economic Uncertainties Reserve commitment
• 25% for Infrastructure Fund
• 25% to Capital Improvement Reserve (CIR) commitment
❑ Once the Economic Uncertainties Reserve commitment attains full funding, unassigned
fund balance will be divided as follows:
• 50% for Infrastructure Fund
• 25% to Capital Improvement Reserve (CIR) commitment
• 25% to Equipment Replacement commitment
❑ Any unassigned revenues received during the fiscal year will be added to the fund
balance of the General Fund.
❑ A minimum of 25% of unrestricted one-time General Fund revenues would be transferred
to the City's Section 115 Trust.
FUND BALANCE CLASSIFICATION
❑ The City's fund balance is made up of the following components:
• Nonspendable fund balance includes amounts that are not in spendable form and
typically includes inventories, prepaid items, and other items that, by definition
cannot be appropriated.
• The restricted fund balance category includes amounts that can be spent only for
the specific purposes stipulated by constitution, external resource providers, or
through enabling legislation.
• The committed fund balance classification includes amounts that can be used
only for the specific purposes determined by a formal action of the City Council.
The City Council has authority to establish, modify, or rescind a fund balance
commitment by formal action.
• Amounts in the assigned fund balance classification are intended to be used by
the City for specific purposes but do not meet the criteria to be classified as
restricted or committed. The City Manager or designee has the authority to
establish, modify, or rescind a fund balance assignment.
• Unassigned fund balance is the residual classification for the City's funds and
includes all spendable amounts not contained in the other classifications.
❑ When expenditures are incurred for purposes for which both restricted and unrestricted
(committed, assigned or unassigned) fund balances are available, the City's policy is to
first apply restricted fund balance. When expenditures are incurred for purposes for
which committed, assigned, or unassigned fund balances are available, the City's policy
is to first apply committed fund balance, then assigned fund balance, and finally
unassigned fund balance.
Res. No. 2023-28
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss:
CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH )
I, ROBIN ESTANISLAU, the duly elected, qualified City Clerk
of the City of Huntington Beach, and ex-officio Clerk of the City Council of
said City, do hereby certify that the whole number of members of the City
Council of the City of Huntington Beach is seven; that the foregoing resolution
was passed and adopted by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of all the
members of said City Council at an adjourned regular meeting thereof held
on June 26, 2023 by the following vote:
AYES: Kalmick, Moser, Van Der Mark, Strickland, McKeon, Bolton, Burns
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
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City Clerk and ex-officio Clerk of the
City Council of the City of
Huntington Beach, California