The Highlands City Council meeting held on September 9, 2025, began with a public hearing at 8 p.m., allowing community members to voice their opinions. However, no residents stepped forward to speak, leading to the closure of the public hearing shortly after it began.

Following the public hearing, council members engaged in discussions regarding the city’s financial situation. Council member Rhonda raised concerns about the city’s budget deficit, which stands at $2.2 million. She inquired about the impact on the fund balance, confirming that the deficit would be covered by the fund balance, which was previously at a healthy level of over 40 percent but is now decreasing. Despite the drop, it remains above the targeted range of 20 to 25 percent. Rhonda emphasized the need for the council to prepare for upcoming financial challenges.

The council then moved on to the next agenda item, with the chair inviting a motion for consideration. It was clarified that the upcoming votes would not be recorded, although the option for a record vote remained open.

Overall, the meeting highlighted the council's awareness of the financial hurdles ahead and the importance of community engagement, even though no public input was received during the hearing. The council is expected to continue addressing these financial issues in future meetings.