Clinton council adopts 2025–26 budget, approves several amendments including teacher bonuses
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Summary
The Clinton City Council adopted the fiscal 2025–26 budget on second reading, approved a $124,000 amendment to cover teacher bonuses, and passed two year-end amendments that adjust reserves and capital spending.
The Clinton City Council on second reading adopted the city’s fiscal 2025–26 budget and approved multiple budget amendments, including a $124,000 increase to pay certified-teacher bonuses funded by the state legislature.
City Manager Roger A. Houck and finance staff described key elements of the adopted budget and the amendments that accompanied it. The council voted to raise the hotel/motel tax from 3% to 4%, which staff estimated would generate about $90,000 annually, and approved a 6% across-the-board pay increase for city employees as part of the third year of the council’s multi-year pay plan.
Why it matters: the budget sets spending and staffing levels for the coming year and includes changes that affect employee pay, capital projects and the city’s unassigned fund balance.
Council discussion and supporting details came from staff and the council’s finance presentation. Staff said the final certified property tax rate was not yet available; the property assessor’s preliminary estimate would lower the city’s rate from 86 cents to about 53 cents if certified. City staff also noted a prior equalization adjustment that reduced revenue in earlier years and flagged continued emphasis on paving and capital outlay in future budgets.
During the meeting the council approved three specific amendments tied to the current and recent fiscal years. Scott Ray presented budget amendment No. 5, which the council said increases expenditures by $124,000 so bonuses appropriated by the state legislature can be paid to full-time certified teachers; the council voted to approve that amendment. Later in the meeting the council approved ordinance-based amendments reflecting in-year changes to the 2024–25 budget (referred to in the meeting as ordinance numbers 699/6 99 and related items) and, under new business, approved budget amendment No. 4, which increases expenditures by $242,535 for capital outlay and grant-related items and adjusts reserves.
Votes and procedure: each budget motion was moved and seconded and approved by roll call. For the actions taken during the meeting the roll-call votes recorded in the transcript were: Councilman Queener (Yes), Councilman Foster (Yes), Councilman Harold (Yes), Councilman Gann (Yes), Councilman Hatmaker (Yes), Councilwoman Mainus (Yes) and Mayor Burton (Yes). The council chair confirmed each motion carried.
Context and next steps: staff told the council the certified tax rate should be available by the July meeting, at which point the council must set the certified rate. Council members and staff discussed using future budget flexibility for paving and park improvements. The council did not attach new programs to the budget during this meeting beyond the capital and grant items described in the amendments.
