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Green River council adopts fiscal 2026 budget, wages and fee schedule; staff to present water/wastewater rate study in August
Summary
Council adopted the fiscal 2026 budget, approved wages and a schedule of fees, and approved a 2% overall pay increase for employees; staff signaled further work on a water/wastewater rate study and potential grant funding for PFAS/sludge issues.
The Green River City Council approved a set of resolutions adopting wages, a schedule of fees and the fiscal year 2026 budget for the period beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026.
Council approved the wage-and-salary resolution for elected and appointed officials, with no changes from the prior year except the renaming of one title to "Community Engagement Administrator." The council also adopted the annual schedule of fees required by ordinance and approved the city’s appropriations and budget for fiscal year 2026. The council approved a 2% pay action described by staff as "a 1% COLA and 1% range movement."
Finance staff told the council the budget is balanced across funds and largely flat compared with the prior year. Staff said revenues are "pretty flat" and that personnel costs make up about "72, 73 percent" of expenditures. On utility rates, staff said a consultant-prepared draft water/wastewater rate study is under review and that the consultant will present findings at a workshop during the first council meeting in August to allow the council to revisit rates before adopting changes.
Staff noted there are potential grant opportunities for water projects related to PFAS and sludge pond work; those grants — if secured — could reduce ratepayer costs. The council was told some usage metrics have fallen and the city is being conservative in rate projections. No rate changes were adopted at the meeting; staff said the rate study will be presented in August for further discussion.
