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Council reviews budget workbook, staff outlines EMS costs and use of fund balance
Summary
City staff walked the council through the general fund summary and workbook, highlighting one-time adjustments, a proposed compensation study, projected EMS costs, a January 2026 COLA, and the planned use of fund balance to smooth next year’s budget.
City staff presented a detailed general-fund summary and supporting “workbook” to City Council members as part of the proposed budget discussion. The presentation described revenue and expense estimates to Sept. 30, one-time adjustments, and proposed items the council could consider funding mid-year.
The summary matters because it lays out assumptions that determine reserves and the city’s ability to absorb higher operating costs, especially the planned expansion of Emergency Medical Services spending and a compensation study intended to align pay with the market.
Mister Turner, staff member, told the council the general fund summary lists budgeted amounts, year-end estimates and the proposed figures for the next fiscal year. He said the packet shows revenues and expenses side-by-side and that some capital projects had been paid from the general fund and later corrected by moving costs to the appropriate project funds. Turner said that process produced a net adjustment of $814,000 moved to reflect proper funding sources.
Turner described an EMS expenditure of $111,000 for the current year and said EMS costs for next year are proposed at $1,287,000. He also said the budget includes a recommended $50,000 compensation study (for fiscal year 24–25), a COLA/salary-related increase of $285,000 planned for January 2026, and an 8% increase in health insurance budgeted at $59,000. The proposed general-fund contingency is $300,000.
Turner said the proposed budget anticipates using $300,000 of fund balance for contingency and an additional $800,000 of fund balance to produce a modest surplus in the current year. He reported an estimated starting fund-balance figure of $1,932,000 for the next fiscal year before subtracting $977,000 in anticipated expenses, “predominantly” to pay for EMS. After those deductions, Turner said projections show fund-balance additions of $372,000 this year and $1,122,000 for the next fiscal year if projections hold.
Staff emphasized the purpose of the white binder called the “workbook,” which Turner said contains departmental requests that are not currently budgeted. He told council members the workbook items are “extras” and would be candidates for mid-year funding decisions if a surplus becomes available. Turner and other staff said the workbook preserves department requests for later review and helps council and future staff allocate any mid-year surpluses.
Council members asked clarifying questions about specific line items and who would pursue suggested awards identified in the materials. Turner said applying for the grants and awards should be the responsibility of the finance director. Staff noted the proposed budget will be posted on the city’s website and that printed copies would be available at the public library and to department heads.
No formal budget ordinance or final vote took place at this meeting; staff said an ordinance calling the budget vote will be brought back for council consideration in a later meeting and that a new city manager and finance director—if in place—would participate in mid-year allocation decisions.
Ending: The presentation closed with staff offering to meet individually with council members and civic groups for detailed budget briefings. The proposed workbook and the general fund summary will be available to the public on the city website and at the library.
