About the Department

Responsibilities

The Finance Department is responsible for accounting functions within the City, including accounts payable and accounts receivable, and for preparing detailed financial statements that meet stringent professional criteria. Additionally, the Department coordinates the City's payroll, issues Business Tax Receipts and Dog Licenses, manages grants, and issues bonds for financing long-term capital acquisitions as directed by Council.

2008 Goals

Current goals of the Sanibel Finance Department include the following:

- Provide training to City staff on the use of accounting software.
- Continue working to implement a web-based method of accepting payments for City services.
- Establish a procedure to increase security relative to potential check fraud.
- Install software that will help increase efficiency and productivity.
- Automate the VISA procurement card processing for all City purchases.

2007 Accomplishments

Recent accomplishments of the Sanibel Finance Department include the following:

- Expanded use of technology to increase the efficiency of the budget process.
- Implemented prior year audit recommendations promptly, reducing audit comments for this Fiscal Year.
- Closely monitored and coordinated the disbursement of $14 million in expenditures for the construction of the new recreation facility.
- Saved the City at least $14,000 by the early pay-off of Hurricane Charley debt.
- Coordinated with the Tax Collector's office to download the sewer system assessment payment data, saving several hours per month in staff time.

Upcoming Challenges

The Finance Department has identified several uses of technology that would allow us to provide better service more efficiently. Implementing these improvements will require more support from the Management Information Systems Department than is currently possible. The Department also anticipates retirements of key personnel and is restricted by physical space constraints for current staff.