When is $5 million really $5 million?

Jeff Berding was a little confused when he got the city administration's financial report for February. The $5 million fund he -- and other members of the "Fiscal Five," as they became known during budgeting last year -- thought they set aside as a reserve didn't have $5 million in it.

"It seems like this money is just in our checking account that we spend each month," Berding said. The $5 million reserve, he said, was "not a wish."

Joe Gray, finance director, explained that the money isn't all there now, but it should be by the end of the year -- if revenues stay as predicted and if the city doesn't spend all of the money that has been appropriated. That $5 million plan, he said, was contingent upon spending being slightly less than what was appropriated.

Instead of $5 million, the amount at the end of February was $1.7 million.