The Seymour City Council on Thursday adopted the fiscal 2025–26 budget by passing Resolution 15‑92 and agreed to restore an employee position at the Salt Fork Recreational Complex after public comments questioned the accuracy of the golf course’s financial reports. The council made the adoption by roll-call vote, and the measure passed unanimously.

The vote followed public testimony and an extended council discussion about the golf course’s operation and the city’s overall infrastructure needs. Resident Misty Wiser told the council she and others reviewed revenue and expense reports and could not determine the complex’s true profit or loss because some entries “are not accurate,” and because a $91,875 posting error was awaiting correction. “If this is taking a huge loss every year as been discussed, then why not market it for sale?” she asked.

Another resident, Jordan Weiser, said a staffing cut in the proposed budget would reduce groundskeeping from two full‑time positions to one and urged council members to consider the effect on course condition and membership revenue. “If the proposed budget is approved as stated with one supervisor position and one groundskeeper position … I would hope that you take into consideration what that would cost you in the care of the course and the loss of revenue on memberships,” he said.

City Administrator Dr. Brazier and other council members described broader fiscal pressures facing Seymour, including outstanding debt and aging infrastructure. One council member said the city’s debt totaled about $5.8 million with annual payments near $550,000 and that the city still faces large, costly water and sewer projects; those remarks were presented in the council discussion as the basis for prioritizing spending.

After debate, Councilwoman Debbie Gillespie moved to adopt Resolution 15‑92 and explicitly include the golf‑course employee position previously budgeted; the motion was seconded by Councilman Skyler Hendricks and approved by all five members: Lan Nguyen, Skyler Hendricks, Debbie Gillespie, Nancy Townley and Billy Hendricks. Council members said the budget adoption could be followed by further amendments next month to rebalance line items so the fiscal year budget is ultimately balanced.

Council and staff said the budget amendment process will reconcile additional revenues (three police grants, an economic development grant and higher sales tax receipts) and that auditors will review both the original and amended budgets when the fiscal year closes. Dr. Brazier said he had “a high level of confidence in the numbers that we’ve presented,” and staff pledged to return with any adjustments to produce a balanced budget at the next meeting.

The council did not adopt any immediate sale or privatization of the golf course. Several speakers said they had fielded offers or interest in purchasing municipal assets in the past, but the council’s decision here preserved the course while asking staff to identify offsetting savings in other line items before the budget is finalized.

The council also discussed how any restored position would be funded. Officials said they would identify roughly $60,000 from existing line items across departments if necessary and present a balanced plan at the following meeting; staff warned that covering the added payroll could necessitate reductions in other departmental programs or delays to projects.

What happens next: city staff will prepare budget adjustments to fund the restored golf‑course position and present a balanced revised budget at the next council meeting. Auditors will review the fiscal year’s receipts and amended budget as part of the year‑end audit.