A Philadelphia-based financial consultant has made several recommendations on how the City of Williamsport can bring in more revenue next year.

Public Financial Management (PFM), which is helping the city on its strategic management plan, suggested pursuit of new agreements with nonprofit organizations to get higher payments in lieu of tax payments or pilots.

Another discussion Gordon Mann, managing director of the firm, said that he had with Scott Livermore, director of the city Department of Public Works, is on the river levee.

Currently, the city leads the operation costs of the levee system, using about $200,000 of its general fund for this purpose.

“If there is a flood, the water does not magically morph around Williamsport’s borders and not touch anybody else,” Mann said. He added how the levee is a “regional asset,” and it should be “regionally funded” and “regionally operated.”

“You should not be shouldering all of those costs,” he said, adding the city needs to get to a point in its financial stability where it takes that $200,000 and moves it to a regional asset.

Public safety regionalization is occurring as indicated by the agreement between the Bureau of Fire and South Williamsport.

The city also plans to eliminate the position of assistant police chief in the Bureau of Police and the chief of police is expected to retire next year, so there will be a process to find a new chief.

PFM’s work costs $124,000 and is paid 90% through a grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development with the city picking up the remaining cost.