What are the Days of Operation Reserves?

An operating reserve is the amount available to stabilize a government’s finances by providing a cushion against future unexpected cash flow shortages, expenses, or losses. It is similar to an individual having a rainy day savings account. The City’s reserve policy strives to have 3-6 months of the annual budget in unassigned fund balance or net assets. Days of Operation Reserve is presented for each fund in the financial outlook. The calculation shows how many months the City could survive, based on the current annualized budget, if all of its fund balance (net assets) commitments were realized. For example, as of fiscal year end 2017, the General Fund has 5.1 months of operation in reserves. If all the commitments on fund balance materialized today, the City could survive for 5.1 months on its unassigned reserves.

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1. What is the General Fund?
2. What are the primary General Fund revenue sources?
3. What is the 4th Cent Sales & Use Tax and how is it allocated?
4. What is the 5th Cent Sales & Use Tax (local option) and how is it allocated?
5. We have a 6th cent specific purpose tax (1% SPT local option) in Albany County. Why don’t I see it in General Fund revenue sources? How is this tax being managed?
6. How much debt can the City carry?
7. What are the current types of general fund debt and the terms associated with the debt?
8. What is an Enterprise Fund?
9. What types of enterprise fund debt are held by the City and what are the terms associated with that debt?
10. What determines how much the City can spend?
11. What is the City’s Bond Rating?
12. What is Depreciation? How does the City manage it?
13. What are Fund Balance and Net Position?
14. What do the different components of fund balance mean?
15. What is a Modified Balance Sheet?
16. What are the Days of Operation Reserves?
17. What are the Recreation Center’s primary revenue sources?
18. What is the percent of Cost Recovery for the Recreation Center?
19. What is the Enterprise Fund Shared Services Transfer?
20. How does the City plan its budget for Enterprise Funds?
21. Are the revenues in the Enterprise fund only user fees?
22. How does the Financial Outlook Report differ from the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR)?