Budget panel approves $65,000 reallocation to fund downtown streetlight conversion

The Stayton Budget Committee voted to fund a $65,000 downtown streetlight conversion project by reallocating existing capital dollars for the community center.

Committee members debated several ways to cover the cost during the meeting. An initial staff option (called “option 5” in committee materials) to fund the lights through a package of deeper cuts failed on a roll-call vote; committee members then approved a narrower amendment that reduces the community center capital budget and dedicates $65,000 to the streetlight project.

City staff had presented several avenues for covering the conversion cost without reducing the franchise-fee transfer to streets. Staff proposals included not increasing general-fund subsidies for library, parks and pool (saving roughly $35,000), drawing on potential grants, and smaller operating reductions across departments. The staff package that would have funded the lights without touching the franchise-fee was presented as “risky” and included cuts to a range of programmatic items.

Several committee members urged less disruptive alternatives. Council member Brian Quigley, citing other line items he said could be postponed, pushed for a targeted reallocation rather than the larger staff-cut package. After the larger package failed, the committee approved an amendment to reduce the community center project budget by $65,000 and move the money to the streetlight conversion.

The reallocation motion carried on a roll call; the committee recorded the final result as “motion passes 8 to 3.” The committee later incorporated that amendment into its final budget adoption vote.

The project is estimated at $65,000; staff told the committee the city could also seek Marion County Community Prosperity Initiative funds ($20,000 per year) as a partial source, but written confirmation from the county was not available during the meeting.

Committee members emphasized that the approved reallocation came from capital project dollars rather than increasing ongoing operating subsidies. Staff said they would proceed with the streetlight work using the allocated funds and continue to pursue grants and other offsets for related projects.

Quote-attribution rule: direct quotes in this article are limited to the meeting transcript speakers listed below.