By Elida S. Perez, El Paso Matters Facing potential budget challenges, El Paso city leaders are preparing to establish when they can tap into one of the city’s reserve funds – the pot of money known as the unrestricted fund balance. The city doesn’t have formal guidelines outlining when or how it can use the fund – a “rainy day fund” not earmarked for specific purposes. While the city has grown the fund  the past decade to about $135.5 million, or 83 operational days, budget policies only state the fund should have enough money to keep the city running for 60 days in case of an emergency.

Now, the city’s top financial officer is recommending that the City Council adopt a policy stating that the fund be used only for emergency expenditures resulting from catastrophic events or in the event

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