During a recent city council meeting, Bay City officials discussed significant financial transactions totaling over $2 billion, including various wire transfers and investments. City Manager Tony Reyes presented accounts and claims, highlighting wire transfers amounting to $10 million, alongside other substantial figures.

Commissioner Bernie raised concerns regarding the transparency of these transactions, specifically questioning the destinations of the wire transfers and the companies involved. He emphasized the need for a detailed breakdown of where the city's funds are being allocated, urging that this information be made accessible to the public. \"The community deserves to know where their money is going,\" he stated, advocating for clearer communication regarding the city's financial dealings.

In response, Reyes assured the council that a comprehensive list of all wire transfers is available in the meeting packet, specifically on page 39. He explained that the city primarily uses Independent Bank for these transactions, which are processed through the federal Fedwire system. Reyes noted that the recent spike in wire transfers was largely due to the city's debt service payments, which occur biannually.

Despite this clarification, Commissioner Bernie reiterated the importance of transparency, suggesting that the public may not fully understand the financial reports as they currently stand. He called for a more straightforward presentation of the data, including the names of companies receiving funds and the purposes of these transactions.

The discussion highlighted a broader concern about public access to financial information and the need for the city to enhance its communication strategies to ensure residents are informed about significant financial activities. The council agreed to consider ways to improve transparency in future financial reports.