Finance / Santino Danisi, Finance Director/Controller

Welcome to the Finance Department

The Finance Department works to ensure the City’s financial integrity. The Department mission is to guide fiscal policy and advocate for sound business processes. This work includes effective and efficient reporting to ensure good stewardship. The Department is responsible for the fiscal management and oversight of City operations by assisting with the receipt, collection, disbursement, and monitoring of City resources.

The Finance Department provides a wide range of comprehensive finance support services to the Mayor, City Council, and City departments. Services include accounting, financial administration and reporting, internal audits, treasury/cash management, investments, payroll, billing and accounts receivable, accounts payable, grants management and business licenses and cashiering. Overall responsibility for management of the City’s finances rests with the Finance Director/Controller who also serves as the City Treasurer.

The Finance Department sets financial management standards and then monitors performance to ensure that these standards are met and that Council adopted budgets are adhered to.

FINANCE UNITS:

The Finance Department consists of the following units:


Administration Unit

The Administrative Unit provides management and strategic planning services to the other units in the Finance Department. It also serves as the conduit between Finance Department staff and the City’s administration.

Accounting Unit

The Accounting Unit consists of General Accounting, Accounts Payable, Finance Reporting, and Asset Management functions. This Unit controls the City’s finance activities by:
1) making timely and appropriate vendor and contract payments; 2) developing and distributing reports and financial tools to departments to enhance their oversight of expenditures and revenues; and 3) producing numerous financial reports including the Annual Comprehensive Financial report (ACFR), the Single Audit, the State Controller’s Reports, the National Transit Database Report, and Monthly Financial and Investment reports.

Treasury Unit

The Treasury Unit reconciles all City bank statements and manages all monies received by the City, investing all funds in the City’s custody that are not required for payment of current obligations in a manner that maximizes earnings while minimizing risk. They account for all investment activity and prepare the monthly investment report.

Debt/Collection Unit

The Collections Unit performs accounts receivable services on obligations that are owed to the City, including loans that were issued to Fresno’s citizens through various housing programs. The Unit also issues and manages the City’s debt obligations and provides low-cost, debt financing for large-scale capital projects and improvements.

Payroll Unit

The Payroll Unit provides payroll services and information to active, retired, and prospective City employees. The Unit also ensures organizational compliance with city, state and federal tax, wage, and hour regulations.

Business Tax Unit

The Business Tax Unit’s primary focus is to help business owners navigate Fresno’s complex tax code and to ensure compliance with tax obligations. The unit collects approximately $21 million business tax and $16 million in transient occupancy tax annually. The unit also administers various permits for the city, including permits for taxi cabs and taxicab drivers, mobile vendors, amusement devices, billiards, mobile home park permits to operate and card room permits. Currently, the unit also collects fees to renew dog licenses.

Grants Management Unit

The Grants Management Unit provides oversight of the City-wide grants including the reporting requirements and submissions to the granting agencies, ensuring subrecipients are also complying with the regulatory guidelines, and assists with the Single Audit, ad-hoc reports for operational evaluations, and analysis requests by City Administration.

Internal Audit Unit

The Internal Audit Unit performs a variety internal audit examinations and risk assessments on departmental compliance with City finance policies, processes, and practices.

Utility Billing & Collection Unit

The Utility Billing & Collection Division (UB&C) is responsible for the billing and collection of the City of Fresno’s utilities fees and charges. UB&C collects fees for Water, Sewer, and Sanitation / Solid Waste. There are four sections within the UB&C – Administration, Customer Services, Collections and Field Services, and Payments and Special Billings. Each section performs numerous functions; however, there are two functions that most directly affect the residents of Fresno and those are counter service and telephone customer inquiries. Customer service for the utility is UB&C’s primary role.

Cash & Certificates of Deposits Held for Others

The City of Fresno Finance Department maintains a listing of all Cash Deposits and Certificates of Deposit being held by it on behalf of City Departments. These deposits relate to construction contracts, development agreements, performance guarantees, etc. These funds are held until such time as the project to which they relate has been completed to the satisfaction of the department to which the funds were initially given. It is only upon written request from the Department in charge of the project that the funds are released back to the owning department. All inquiries related to the status of the project and/or the monies being held should be addressed to the department noted next to each deposit on the lists below. The Finance Department has no access to this information.

The next update to these listings is anticipated to be published at the beginning of each month.

Cash Deposits Held

Certificates of Deposit Held

Documents can be made accessible in alternative ADA compliant formats upon request. To request documents in alternative ADA Compliant formats contact Tracy Gregory [email protected] or (559) 621-7076

Unclaimed Checks

The City of Fresno maintains a listing of all accounts payable checks that are at least six months old and have not been cashed. After three years, and at the end of a calendar year, unclaimed items in excess of $15 must be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Fresno for two consecutive weeks. A sixty day period follows during which time individuals have the right to contact the City and claim the funds on deposit. Any funds that are not claimed become the property of the City of Fresno on the date stated in the published notice. The City Council may then transfer the money into the City’s General Fund in accordance with California Government Code Sections 50050 – 50053 and 50055. Below is a listing of checks that are at least six months old and have never been cashed, and have not yet been transferred to the City’s General Fund.

If you are the legal payee, or legally have the authorization to represent the payee listed below, and would like to request a new check, please contact Accounts Payable at (559) 621-7037 or (559) 621-7040 or email [email protected] and request a Stop Payment Request form. Once the form is completed, the original received by Finance and approved by the Controller, a new check will be mailed within three weeks.

The next update to this listing is anticipated to be published at the beginning of each month.

Unclaimed Checks

Uncashed Utilities Refund Checks

Documents can be made accessible in alternative ADA compliant formats upon request. To request documents in alternative ADA compliant formats contact Danielle Valenzuela at [email protected] or (559) 621-7071.

Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID)

Developed by the Fresno Convention and Visitors Bureau (FCVB), the Fresno – Clovis Tourism Business Improvement District (FCTBID) is a benefit assessment district proposed to help fund marketing and sales promotion efforts for Fresno and Clovis lodging businesses.

Location of the TBID Area
The FCTBID includes all lodging businesses (e.g., hotels, motels, and inns) located within the boundaries of the cities of Fresno and Clovis.

Services Provided
Marketing and sales promotions to increase tourism and to market Fresno and Clovis as tourist, meeting, and event destinations.

Assessment
Annual assessment rates are 1 1/2% (one and one-half percent)  of gross short term (stays less than 31 consecutive days) room rental revenue on lodging businesses through December 31, 2020. Beginning on January 1, 2021, the annual assessment rate increases to 2% (two percent) of gross short term stays room rental on lodging businesses. Based on the benefit received, assessments will not be collected on stays of more than thirty (30) consecutive days, not on railroad crews, airline crews, or tax-exempt government employees on government business.

Duration
The FCTBID has a five-year life.  The FCTBID assessment was implemented beginning January 1, 2011, and was renewed on January 1, 2016.  Once per year beginning on the anniversary of the formation of the district there is a 30-day period in which owners paying more than 50% of the assessment may protest and terminate the district.

2014 Renewal tot he Master District Plan

Management District Plan

TBID Boundary Map

Resolution of Approval

City Ordinance 2012-07: Administration & Collection

TBID Form

FAQ’s

Key Staff

Finance Division Key Staff

Business License & Tax Certificate

Info. on starting your own business and more!

Financial Reports

Financial, Audit, Compliance Reports and more

City Budget

Assists in planning and strategic management processes

Bonds, Investments & Bond Obligations

Seeking to maintain the highest possible credit ratings

Internal Audit

Assisting the City of Fresno in improving operations

Utilities Billing and Collection

Pay your bills online, in person, via phone, or via postal mail.

American Rescue Plan Act

Utilize customary procurement practices for all projects initiated directly by the City.

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