Republic file photo Columbus City Hall.
Columbus Board of Public Works and Safety members re-enlisted the services of a consultant to help with the city’s finances.
Board members approved a one-year agreement between the city and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company where the firm will analyze the city’s financial condition and help with financial forecasts, expense reports and long-term operating and capital planning, among other general financial consulting services.
The city will pay the firm a consulting fee of $3,150 each month during the term of the agreement. The Columbus Redevelopment Commission finalized a similar agreement with Stifel during their meeting on Dec. 15.
“Andrew (Lanam of Stifel) has obviously been working with redevelopment for many years now. He’s been doing consulting with Regina (McIntyre, city controller) for the last two years. This would be to continue that agreement,” Ben Reinhart, deputy controller, told board members. “Andrew has been very valuable in terms of all the complexities of government finance.”
Reinhart mentioned how the finance department is in the process of transitioning the city from cash basis accounting to accrual accounting, which Lanam has consulted on.
“We’re hoping in 2026 we can lay out a plan to get there,” Reinhart said. “We’ll run depreciation schedules— the balance sheet will be a whole lot more complex than it is today.”
Mayor Mary Ferdon said that while the city has contracted the firm for many years, its services were “particularly helpful” in the past year as the city assessed how last legislative session’s Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 1 would impact things like the city’s property tax base.
“He was able to help us run numbers and come up with estimates so he’s very valuable, not only to the finance department, but the city at-large,” the mayor said.
