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Finance director reports $65M in Helena recovery spending; commission debates 2026 budget strategy after community survey
Summary
City finance staff reported $65 million spent on Hurricane Helena recovery and identified $7 million in over-budget employee health care and related concerns. Commissioners reviewed a 771‑response community budget survey and began a budget strategy discussion including modeled cuts and NGO funding review.
City finance staff presented the June 30, 2025 financial reports and used the quarterly update to frame the commission's early budget discussions for 2026, while staff and commissioners also reviewed results from a recent community budget survey and a standing list of nongovernmental organization (NGO) funding.
Finance director Tim Schreier told the Finance Committee the city had spent about $65 million on Hurricane Helena recovery as of June 30 and had received roughly $35 million in FEMA proceeds. Schreier highlighted several budget pressures: employee health care costs running approximately $7 million over budget for the entire government; prisoner housing costs projected about $1 million over budget; and changes to projected salary savings (lapsed salaries) due to improved retention in some departments.
Schreier said the city held roughly $800 million in cash across funds, about $350 million of which are bond…
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