City of Gonzales praised during financial report

At the most recent Gonzales city council meeting April 11, Jon Watson of BrooksWatson & Co. delivered the findings of their Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR.) Watson, an independent auditor, gave Gonzales an unmodified opinion, which is the highest level of assurance.

“Congratulations to the city management, great job getting us all the information we needed, answering all the questions,” Watson said at the meeting. “[We can] really do a deeper audit than we can with some other cities because of the familiarity and level of evidence that we get.”

Watson highlighted several aspects of the financial report including:

• Unassigned fund balance in the general fund improving from $124,687 or 1.8 percent to $1,010,784 or 14 percent of the annual general fund expenditures over the span of the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2018.
• An overall increase of $3,875,504 in the city’s net position for the year.
• The city’s governmental funds reported a combined ending fund balance of $2,247,411, which is an increase of $1,714,728 from the prior year.

Watson made sure to emphasize the impressiveness of the unassigned fund balance improvement. Though the city is still below the recommended 25 percent, Watson lauded the council for the quick turnaround.

“Last year it was low, and I mentioned in the same meeting it was low, we all had some discussion about it” Watson said. “Really positive change I can’t stress that enough.”

In a statement prepared for the Inquirer, the city detailed some of the ongoing and upcoming projects. The majority of the projects are in the process of being prepared for competitive bidding, however some have already been bid out. Those projects include, among others:

• $1.4 million for hydro station building renovation and electric and mechanical renovation.
• $251,690 for reclaiming with two course surface treatment on Wallace St. between St. Joseph and Water St., as well as, Cone St. West of St. Joseph to Aintsworth St.
• $161,000 for a phase one of five in the replacement of an old 15” sewer line at Fischer, Church, Cuero, College and St. Francis.
• $75,000 for the roof replacement on the Victoria College Training Center.

In all, the planned projects will cost the city around $3 million with funding coming from both the budget and grants. More information on the CAFR report, projects and city budget can be found under the financial transparency tab on www.gonzales.texas.gov.

The public has the opportunity to voice its questions, concerns or suggestions during the city council public comments section. The next meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. May 9 at City Hall, 820 St Joseph St, Gonzales, Texas 78629. Council will hold a public hearing for early citizen input for the 2019-20 budget at its next meeting.