The city of Butler ended 2017 with a fund balance of just less than $300,000, which is three times less than the recommended amount.

Butler ended 2017 with a fund balance of just less than $300,000, which is three times less than the recommended amount.

That's what a Maher Duessel accountant told city council during Tuesday's forum meeting.

Beth Dittmer, a senior manager with the city's auditing firm, said the U.S. Government Accountability Office recommends municipalities have two months of budget expenses in their fund balances.

“You're obviously a little shy of that,” Dittmer said when she highlighted the draft of the city's 2017 audit.

The city had a $291,417 fund balance at the end of last year, but it should have $1.4 million to meet the GAO recommendation, she said.

The city ended the year with $1.8 million in total assets and $8 million in outstanding debt, she said.

The final audit will be presented to council when it is complete, she said.