RES 23-002
RESOLUTION NO. 23-002
A RESOLUTION of the City Council of the City of Camas,
Washington, adopting a Reserve Balance Policy.
WHEREAS, the Council finds that maintaining an adequate level of reserves would act to
ensure the financial stability of the City and allow the City effectively plan for cash funded needs
and maintain strong bond ratings, as well as address potential shortfalls related to economic
downturns or other contingencies; and
WHEREAS, maintenance of adequate reserves would require a reasoned consideration of
risks inherent in the ongoing operations of the City; and
WHEREAS, the General Fund of the City is the main operating fund for general services
provided by the City with the highest degree of potential risk and thereby would require a
dedicated minimum level of reserve balance to be established as a goal; and
WHEREAS, other funds may also require adequate reserve levels be established, again
accounting for the level of risk and other assessments as identified in this Policy;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CAMAS, AS FOLLOWS:
I.
The City Council approves and adopts the Reserve Balance Policy as set forth in Exhibit “A”.
ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Camas, this 3rd day of
April, 2023.
APPl(OY_JD as t~J,.o ormrm:: OL1L1~
City Attorney
PURPOSE
SCOPE
POLICY
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WASHINGTON
RESERVE BALANCE POLICY
The purpose of the Reserve Balance Policy is to ensure the City remains a financially
stable organization by maintaining appropriate reserves. Adequate reserves position
the City to effectively plan for cash funded needs, as well as unplanned needs caused
by significant economic downturns, manage the consequences of outside impacts
that result in revenue reductions and address unexpected emergencies, such as
natural disasters, catastrophic events or excess liabilities or legal judgements.
All operating funds of the City.
It is the policy of the City to establish and maintain adequate reserves based on
consideration of risks to operations, in the budgetary fund balance across a
spectrum of City operating funds. The budgetary fund balance represents the
one-time amount accumulated from prior years, which is different than the fund
balance under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) but includes the
same constraints on spending.
PRACTICE: General Fund Reserve Policy
The General Fund is the main operating fund that pays for the general services
provided by the City, such as public safety, parks, and library services. 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 actions. In addition, the General Fund is the
main funding source when responding to unexpected events or emergencies.
The City desires to maintain a prudent level of reserves based on the revenue
impacts described above ant the City's desire to maintain strong bond ratings to
minimize borrowing costs. This reserve policy sets the targeted minimum level
at 22% of General Fund annual expenditures which equates to approximately
2.5 months of reserves. The 22% consists of the 2 months of annual
expenditures and 5% which is the approximate amount of Building Department
unspent revenue (which can only be used to cover the cost of the Building
Department) and the unspent development related revenue tied to engineering
costs. This reserve is to provide stability and flexibility to respond to unexpected
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adversity and/or opportunities. Should the minimum level fall below its target,
a plan will be formulated to restore within a three-year period.
Other Fund Reserve Policies
Other funds have been identified as needing reserves due to one or more of the
following reasons: self-supporting in nature, the potential for unanticipated
revenue or expenses changes that can negatively affect operations, to help
maintain a stable fee structure, legally required in an interlocal agreement, or to
cover the potential of unanticipated events threatening the public health, safety,
or welfare. Reserves have been created in Camas/Washougal Fire Department,
Enterprise Operating Funds (i.e., Water/Sewer, Solid Waste, Stormwater),
Pension Funds, Replacement Funds, and Bond Reserve Funds.
Targeted reserves will be maintained as described below. Reserves should only
be utilized after all other budget resources have been examined for available
funds. Should the minimum target level for any of the funds identified fall below
its target, a plan will be formulated to restore within the next year, but not to
exceed a three-year period.
Camas-Washougal Fire Department accounts for the revenues and expenditures
made in purchasing, maintaining, operating, and providing fire services,
emergency aid service and ambulance transport for both cities and emergency
aid services and ambulance transport services for East County Fire and Rescue.
The City of Washougal and East County Fire and Rescue pay the City a fee from
their EMS levies to fund their proportionate share of emergency aid service and
ambulance transport services. The City of Washougal makes additional
contributions to fund Washougal's proportionate share of fire services and to
build reserves. Camas and Washougal agreed to target a reserve balance of 17%
of annual expenditures.
Stormwater Enterprise Fund accounts for specific services funded directly by
fees and charges to City stormwater customers. The fund is intended to be self-
supporting and will maintain a minimum target reserve of 18% of annual
expenditures. Other Stormwater reserves may be created when deemed
appropriate (i.e., land, capital projects).
Solid Waste Enterprise Fund accounts for specific services funded directly by
fees and charges to City Solid Waste customers. The fund is intended to be self-
supporting and will maintain a minimum target reserve of 18% of annual
expenditures. Other Solid Waste reserves may be created when deemed
appropriate (i.e., equipment, trucks).
Water/Sewer Enterprise Fund accounts for specific services funded directly by
fees and charges to City Water/Sewer customers. The fund is intended to be self-
supporting and will maintain a minimum target reserve of 18% of annual
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expenditures. Other Water/Sewer reserves may be created when deemed
appropriate (i.e., capital, bond reserves, capital projects).
Equipment Rental and Replacement Fund will maintain a minimum target
reserve of 10% of the total City fleet replacement value. A fleet management
vehicle replacement plan will be reviewed annually by the Public Works Director
to ensure systematic replacement of vehicles based on combination of miles
driven, repairs and maintenance schedules and years of service.
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