ORDINANCE NO. 9558

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF LAWRENCE, KANSAS, ENACTING CHAPTER 1, ARTICLE 4, SECTION 1-408 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF LAWRENCE, KANSAS 2018 EDITION AND AMENDMENTS THERETO, PERTAINING TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE OF THE CITY OF LAWRENCE, KANSAS.

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF LAWRENCE, KANSAS:

SECTION 1.  Chapter 1, Article 4, Section 1-408 of the Code of the City of Lawrence, Kansas 2018 Edition, and amendments thereto, is hereby enacted to read as follows.

1-408 FINANCE DIRECTOR; DUTIES; AUTHORITY.

(A) The Department of Finance shall be headed by a Director (“Finance Director”), who shall be appointed by and shall serve at the pleasure of the City Manager. The Finance Director shall be answerable to the City Manager and shall take direction from the City Manager.

(B) The Finance Director shall safely keep all public moneys entrusted to his or her care and shall oversee the assessment, receipt, collections, and disbursement of all public funds in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.  The Finance Director shall assume responsibility for all Finance Department services and activities including but not limited to:  investments of public funds, debt management, accounting operations, accounts receivable, accounts payable, budget, the bond financing program, purchasing, utility billing, special internal audits, as necessary, financial analysis and planning, overseeing the annual financial audit of the City performed by a qualified third party, and other duties as determined by the City Manager.  Specifically, these responsibilities shall include but not be limited, as follows:   

(1) Investments.  The Finance Director shall oversee the investment of idle City funds in accordance with the City’s Investment Policy and procedures, and applicable laws and regulations, including Chapter 1, Article 5 of the Code of the City of Lawrence, as amended. 

(2) Debt Management.  The Finance Director shall be responsible for the debt management of the City.  The Finance Director shall ensure that all laws, rules, and regulations are followed in the issuance and management of debt.  The Finance Director shall follow best management practices and principles of governmental accounting regarding debt management.

(3) Accounting, Record Keeping and Reporting.  The Finance Director shall ensure that best management practices and principles of governmental accounting are followed.  That includes, but is not limited to accounting practices, record keeping, and financial reporting of the City of Lawrence.  The Finance Director shall oversee and direct the preparation of financial reports, fiscal statements, analyses, and audits, including but not limited to the City’s annual financial audit.

(4) Budget.  The Finance Director shall oversee and coordinate the development of the annual City budget in accordance with state laws.

(5) Receipt of City funds.  The Finance Director shall oversee the assessment, receipt, and collection of all city funds, including receipt of tax collections, fines, fees, and utility and other service fee collections, and accounts receivables. The Finance Director shall regularly examine and audit said accounts to ensure all moneys due the City are received and accounted for.  If amounts due the City are not timely received, the Finance Director shall, with assistance with the City Manager’s Office, and the City Attorney, develop a plan for collection thereof.

(6) Payment of Accounts and Obligations.  The Finance Director shall ensure that City funds are appropriately and timely disbursed to third parties entitled to such disbursements including vendors, other municipalities and persons with City accounts payable.

SECTION 2.  If any section, sentence, clause, or phrase of this ordinance is found to be unconstitutional or is otherwise held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction it shall not affect the validity of any remaining parts of this ordinance.

SECTION 3. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force after its passage and publication as provided by law.

PASSED by the Governing Body of the City of Lawrence, Kansas, this _____day of _____, 2018.

APPROVED:

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Stuart Boley

                                                                                    Mayor

ATTEST:

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Sherri Riedemann

City Clerk

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

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Toni R. Wheeler

City Attorney