There shall be a department of finance, the director of which shall be appointed by appointed by the chief executive officer and confirmed by a majority of the city commission. The director of finance shall have knowledge of municipal accounting and taxation and shall have had experience in budgeting and financial control. The department of finance shall have authority and shall be required:
(1) To prepare the budget, as outlined in sections 3, 4 and 5 of this article and to assist the chief executive officer in its execution after authorization by the commission as required by section 6.
(2) To maintain accounting control over the finances of the city government, for which purpose it is empowered to operate a set of general accounts embracing all the financial transactions of the city, and such subsidiary accounts and cost records as may be required by ordinance or by the chief executive officer for purposes of administrative direction and financial control; to prescribe the forms of receipts, vouchers, bills, or claims to be filed by all departments and agencies of the city government; to examine and approve all contracts, orders, and other documents by which the city incurs financial obligations, having ascertained before approval that the moneys have been duly appropriated and allotted to meet such obligations and will become available when the obligations have become due and payable; to audit and approve all bills, invoices, payrolls, and other evidences of claims, demands or charges against the city government and to determine the regularity, legality, and correctness of such claims, demands, or charges; to make monthly reports on all receipts and expenditures of the city government, to make monthly reports on funds, appropriations, allotments, encumbrances, and authorized payments, to the chief executive officer, the commission, and the head of the department or agency directly concerned; to inspect and audit any accounts or records of financial transactions which may be maintained in any department or agency of the city government apart from or subsidiary to the general accounts; and to perform such other duties pertaining to the financial records of the city government as the commission may require by ordinance.
(3) To invest all funds deemed in excess of current needs in the manner authorized by the laws of the State of Texas and the investment policy approved by the commission; current needs are hereby defined as expenditures to be required within a given ninety (90) day period.
(4) To control the purchase, storage, and distribution of all supplies, materials, equipment, and contractual services required by the city government, or by any department or agency thereof, in the manner provided by ordinance; to establish and enforce standard specifications with respect to such supplies, materials, and equipment; to inspect or supervise the inspection of all deliveries of supplies, materials, and equipment, and to determine their quality, quantity, and conformance with specifications, to have charge of such general storerooms and warehouses as the commission may provide by ordinance; and to transfer to or between city departments or to sell surplus, obsolete or unused supplies, materials, and equipment.
(5) To make all special assessments for public improvements, and to give such notice of these assessments to the property owners as may be required by law.
(6) To collect, have custody of, and disburse all taxes, licenses, fees, and other moneys belonging to the city government subject to the provisions of this charter and ordinances enacted thereunder; to have custody of all investments and invested funds of the city or in possession of the city in a fiduciary capacity and to keep a record of such investments, and to have custody of all bonds and certificates of city indebtedness, including such bonds and certificates unissued or canceled, and the receipt and delivery of city bonds and certificates for transfer, registration, or exchange. (Ord. 19-31, passed 11-18-2019)