At the April 21 city council meeting, Council member Mark Recchiuti said the Finance Committee met before the meeting to hear a first-quarter financial report and no activity was taken by the committee.

Business Manager David Brong presented the financial review, which encompassed cash balance, receipts, and expenses including payroll and benefits, medical insurance and purchased services such as street lighting.

The city is performing well financially through the first quarter, Brong said. He noted revenues are approximately $1 million higher than expected although expenses are more than $500,000 over budget. There is a current surplus of $483,000, Brong said.

The expense overrun is mostly in healthcare expenses, which are $636,000 over budget, Brong said, noting that since Bethlehem is self-insured, costs will often fluctuate.

The city's cash balance is at $20.1 million, in contrast to $16.8 million at this time last year, he noted. The increase comes from the 5.4 percent property tax increase this year.

Bethlehem's $71.1 million budget receives much of its revenue early the year and most of its bills later in the year, so the cash balance is often high in the early months.

A report from the Recycling Bureau indicated a DEP grant of $391,858 and we should arrive in the next six to eight weeks.

The EMS Bureau reported that the Department is currently operating at a net loss

of $123,843, but is still running ahead of projected costs by $90,507.

The Water Fund reported a decrease of $50 in the cash balance from $2,313 on March 31, 2015 and $2,363 on March 31, 2014.

The Sewer Fund reported a decrease of $119 in the cash balance from $1,328 on March 31, 2015 and $1,447 on March 31, 2014.

The City golf course reported a total revenue of $12,725 .72 at the end of March, $5,849 behind February of 2014.