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DEAR EDITOR:
Well, it's election time again. That time of year when incumbents campaign on what has been done and their challengers on what they believe should be done.
Recently, I watched a meet the candidates forum where the challenger for Warren's 3rd Ward, Jeff Walton, suggested that he would present the idea of having quarterly budget meetings. While I'm sure Mr. Walton thinks this is a novel idea; I feel the need to let Mr. Walton and the entire city know that the finance department already holds these meetings. As the city auditor, I have required quarterly meetings since my start as auditor in 2016. Those who attend the meetings regularly, besides myself, include the deputy auditor, department heads, the head of purchasing, a representative of the mayor's office and the finance chairman for City Council, currently 3rd Ward Councilman Greg Greathouse.
These meetings include discussions on expenditures to date, current financial positions, staffing levels and upcoming expenditures. Most recently, I also requested all departments present a plan to address the costs of potential tariff increases without increasing their overall budgets.
While the city has managed to increase its financial strength year over year for the past decade, the increases in operating costs, utilities, materials -- along with the closure of one of our hospitals -- will certainly have an impact on this year's budget.
As for the unknowns coming from the federal government, we will continue to monitor the daily changes and adjust accordingly. Rest assured we will continue to hold those quarterly budget meetings, as usual.
VINCE S. FLASK
Warren city auditor