[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6527108,"mediaKeyId","3648362-da786073f19c22e2327c6d254f580353","parentId",3648362,"title","Torrington approves FY2026 budget on second reading; council also approves routine bills","audioSeconds",772,"startMs",1919000,"endMs",2691000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3648362-da786073f19c22e2327c6d254f580353&start=1919&end=2691","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3648362-da786073f19c22e2327c6d254f580353/thumbnail_1919000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6527108/Torrington/Goshen/Wyoming/Torrington-approves-FY2026-budget-on-second-reading-council-also-approves-routine-bills","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6527108-7476d2fff10797a99ff169a074e11334/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157997&Signature=j2f7sYiNDmPQ1XjRCveUuP2JZDF0aR1RAIDw5CH8QaHsNbVg0aKF8-RayBfX2MkBWAdHuigHMAJNf4ILAy-CRwROmDY-gHSlVdIFYBzCBmgZwdTLcFZcWSnaRYPY76SLG9dvupAkXZkG0Z5EMudN0Hld3zvZhnC1iX3fZ55BB6rDFrwCYd2KPLvSgtgVdGI5~Lb907rL7qE9Wfy8vsVDlGG57y78ch1JQWQf9dC4hCsdsgs~E8ec8ZqagaANi5qvO4V3~RsHaVYSzZhv7ioixyXgRYZNEnnjO2bVBy24ocDiQLYDTu2q2zWdlXs0YkowqAlHyqiCEY6yMXYtxE3~lQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Torrington","date","2025-06-04T01:44:35Z","article","The Torrington City Council approved on second reading an ordinance providing appropriations for the 2026 fiscal year, a document staff described as \"fluid\" and subject to further revisions before final adoption. Budget staff presented the current working totals and a list of adjustments made since the ordinance's first reading; the council voted to approve the ordinance on second reading.

Finance staff member Lynette Strecker summarized changes since the first reading and presented the working totals, saying the ordinance presented is \"for a total budget of $53,817,269.\" Strecker told the council the city still awaited a final property-tax estimate from the assessor and that staff would present updated and finalized numbers at the third reading. She listed major fund requirements in the current draft: a general fund requirement of $12,457,970; water $10,110,522; sewer $14,127,735; electric $9,306,979; sanitation $2,862,908; and smaller enterprise funds (airport, golf course, pool, ambulance, cemetery) totaling $4,951,155.

Strecker also outlined line-item adjustments since first reading, including revenue adjustments to the sanitation fund, postponed or removed equipment purchases (mowers, plow, scale software), and an application of gas tax revenue to the chip-seal program. She said staff increased projected workers' compensation and law-enforcement retirement costs consistent with state statute changes and a 3% health-insurance increase.

Councilman Deal moved to approve the FY2026 budget ordinance on second reading; Councilman Victorin seconded. The council approved the ordinance on second reading by voice vote.

The council also approved two routine votes: approval of bills for May 21–June 3, 2025 (motion by Councilman Deal, second by Councilman Victorin) and the earlier motion to table the planning-commission ordinance until June 17 (motion moved by Councilman Victorin, second by Councilman Deal). The bills were approved after a short discussion about pool equipment and parking-lot striping; the fire chief explained a recent vendor change for striping after past donations of labor ended.

Strecker said staff will present a final budget package and all administrative-fee calculations at the third reading so the general fund meets its reserve target and transfers to enterprise funds are finalized. The council approved the second-reading ordinance and directed staff to return with final numbers for third reading.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council","oneSentenceSummary","The council approved the fiscal year 2026 budget on second reading and approved city bills for the period ending June 3, 2025. Council directed staff that the budget remains a working document and that final numbers will appear at third reading.","taxTitle","Torrington, Goshen, Wyoming","taxId",69037,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6527114,"Torrington council tables planning commission ordinance; seeks smaller board and clearer process",1906,0,1906000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3648362-da786073f19c22e2327c6d254f580353&start=0&end=1906","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3648362-da786073f19c22e2327c6d254f580353/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6527114/Torrington/Goshen/Wyoming/Torrington-council-tables-planning-commission-ordinance-seeks-smaller-board-and-clearer-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6527114-32ad717ac1d4832ae363fd0c2cdd7af7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157997&Signature=UV-6rhXvH6IfnPBmYiCM8YtCUhl94wAeB4eT0aV9NhLa15CRGhID1NO5D1yvK~nPiplGDZOMemtFFCs6DtrhQtNp-nICJPGOGDtwpD6wq0VcPUgdGa3MQ7JMJBOSCABIl1MtGtQzm1uMPHBEzcEc8KtBD7M4014LI2-xWiMOFXIltlWMQ0FSVwCi45WpcZvSrPXol1UtJ6n~3iCXUL0dGrjCRjnQ~Mb2yQa10Gxge2XriMZgCuoqtMINhrzBkuw9xXog9XWmOwQB3LDyagl5GREHa4XpGx3IB1LmqJhuBA60JqLFTRgQWpsvWeGCFcTBsOm9WkMPKgFkP7XV~GhiJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Torrington City Council on Tuesday voted to table an ordinance that would shrink the city's planning commission from seven to five members, change several uses of the word \"will\" in the ordinance to the discretionary \"may,\" and add a 10-year term limit for commissioners while grandfathering current members. Council moved to table the measure for redrafting and return at the June 17 meeting.

Supporters of the rewrite told the council the changes are intended to reflect current practice and to ease problems that arise when the planning commission lacks a quorum. Mayor Estes and other council members said the planning commission rarely meets because several seats are vacant, and that requiring a full seven-member board has caused applicants to incur extra time and expense when plats could not be reviewed. City Attorney Jim Eddington told the council, \"I don't foresee any problems whatsoever. No.\"

The council's discussion focused on three practical changes: reducing membership to a total of five (with a suggested split of four city residents and one from the unincorporated area), converting mandatory-sounding language (characterized in the meeting as \"will\" or equivalent to \"shall\") to \"may\" to reflect that the planning commission is advisory, and adding a limit that no commissioner serve longer than 10 years while explicitly grandfathering current members so they would not be removed immediately.

Proponents said the change would prevent applicants from having to pay and wait for a second month of review when the planning commission cannot convene. Council members repeatedly emphasized that the council, when sitting as the board of adjustment, retains final authority to approve plats and variances even if the planning commission does not act. Several council members asked staff to include explicit language that if the planning commission fails to meet or lacks a quorum, the item would proceed to the council acting as the board of adjustment so the applicant's plat filing is not delayed.

Some council members pushed back against any language that might be used to routinely bypass the planning commission. Councilman Victorin said he did not want the city to create a process that would become a habit of skipping advisory review. In response, proponents and the city attorney said staff will draft language clarifying intent: planning matters should go to the planning commission first and only come to the board of adjustment if the commission cannot meet or provide an opinion.

After extended discussion and several amendments suggested by council, Councilman Victorin moved to table the ordinance to the June 17 meeting so staff could prepare a redraft reflecting council input. Councilman Deal seconded the motion; the motion passed by voice vote and the item was tabled.

The redraft will include the revised membership numbers and composition, an explicit quorum definition, grandfathering language for current members' terms, and a provision addressing the process when the planning commission cannot act. Staff committed to present the revised ordinance at the June 17 meeting for first-reading consideration.","The Torrington City Council on first reading tabled an ordinance that would change planning commission membership from seven to five, replace mandatory \"will\" language with discretionary \"may,\" and add a 10-year term limit (grandfathering current members). Staff will redraft and return June 17.","actionData","errors"]

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Torrington approves FY2026 budget on second reading; council also approves routine bills

Torrington council tables planning commission ordinance; seeks smaller board and clearer process