Monthly Financial Report for the Period Ending July 31, 2010
Presented as an informal, informational memo to City Council from City Manager James K. Hartmann.
Download Original Signed Memo (PDF)
Final revenues and expenditures for FY 2010 will be reported later this fall in the City’s audited Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). We are pleased to report that through prudent fiscal management, it appears that we have produced sufficient savings not only to cover an expected revenue shortfall in FY 2010 but also to provide additional surplus savings that can be used for such things as future one-time capital expenses, and/or to build up our reserves for future economic downturns, disasters, or other emergencies. The amount of that savings is not firm as it is being finalized. At the September 14 Council meeting, staff will provide an unaudited estimate of how the City finished FY 2010 financially. At this point, we can say that revenue reestimates made in April were almost exactly on the mark. Those April reestimates, however, included a projected $9.3 million shortfall in revenues compared to the original FY 2010 budget estimate made one year earlier at the time of adoption of the FY 2010 budget. (The 7 cent real estate tax rate increase added $11.0 million in revenues in FY 2010, which have already been dedicated for future one-time capital expenses by City Council.) Budget Memo #68 (dated April 16, 2010) estimated that the City would cover $8.1 of this $9.3 million shortfall by reducing expenditures. We can now say that we have not only covered this shortfall but produced additional savings, primarily from careful departmental budget management.
NOTE: Click on the headings below or the "online references" to view more detailed economic, revenue or expenditure data. Click on any highlighted bullet or text to view additional information, including charts and memos.
- The national economy slowed in the second quarter. Gross Domestic Product increased at an annualized rate of 1.6 percent, down from 3.7 percent in the first quarter.
- Alexandria’s economy is relatively strong compared to the national economy. For the first time since the inauguration, the year-over-year increase in the one percent lodging tax exceeded the increase in the $1 room tax, an indication of higher room rates.
- Residential real estate market trends are mixed. After the expiration of the homebuyer’s tax credit, residential sales volume fell 19.6 percent compared to July 2009 while the average sales price increased 1.7 percent.
- The commercial real estate market is showing signs of improvement in at least one area. The City’s vacancy rate for office buildings fell to 11.7 percent in the 2nd quarter from 12.4 percent in the first quarter according to an index derived from CoStar data.
Year-to-Date Revenues: As of July 31, 2010, actual General Fund revenues totaled $1.8 million, which approximates FY 2010 revenues for the same period last year. Government accounting principles require that most taxes and intergovernmental revenues received in July are counted as revenue for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010.
- Licenses and Permits: The category decrease is due to transfer of approximately $3.8 million in new construction fees from the General Fund to a special revenue account where they will be used to cover the cost of Code Enforcement’s New Construction division.
Year-to-Date Expenditures: As of July 31, 2010, actual General Fund expenditures totaled $33.7 million, an increase of $3.0 million, or 9.9 percent, above expenditures for the same period last year. One month does not provide enough data to recognize any trends either positive or negative.
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