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Wasilla council adopts $65.1 million FY2026 budget after marathon review
Summary
The Wasilla City Council voted to adopt the fiscal year 2026 budget, amended after multiple sessions and dozens of line-item changes. The ordinance appropriates $65,109,938 across general, capital and enterprise funds and carries program and capital funding into the new fiscal year beginning July 1.
The Wasilla City Council adopted its fiscal year 2026 budget on a final roll call after more than a dozen workshops and a multi-hour meeting to consider more than a dozen amendments.
The council approved Ordinance Serial Number 2525, the annual budget, as amended. The ordinance sets total appropriations at $65,109,938 across general, capital and enterprise funds for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025.
Council members said the extended review focused on aligning the city’s capital plans and operating needs with available fund balance and federal/state grant opportunities. Finance director Cassie Lynn summarized the major administrative items before the vote, including contract awards and revised appropriations added during the amendment process. "There is hereby appropriated out of the revenues of the City Of Wasilla for the fiscal year beginning 07/01/2025 the sum of $65,109,938," Lynn read as the revised totals were entered into the ordinance.
The council debated and voted on numerous line-item amendments in committee of the whole before returning to the full chamber for final adoption. Amendments added or reduced funds for capital projects, maintenance, staffing and specialized programs, including changes to road paving allocations, a new wildfire mitigation CIP project, and adjustments to MATCOM and Menard Center requests. Many amendments passed by unanimous voice votes; a handful required roll-call votes.
On final adoption the clerk recorded a roll call and the council announced the ordinance passed with a majority in favor; the meeting minutes record the adoption as Ordinance Serial Number 2525, amended.
The budget ordinance directs city departments to implement the appropriations and authorizes specified transfers. The council and administration noted several implementation steps ahead: staff will return with CIP project details, updated salary-grade resolutions, and any ordinance language required to operationalize programs funded in the adopted budget.
The council completed the meeting by approving the remaining consent items and scheduling follow-up work in regular sessions. The budget will take effect with the start of the fiscal year July 1, 2025.
The council vote as reported in the meeting: Cottle, Graham, Schmidt, Velock and Rubio recorded in support; Mayor Ledford absent; Council member Crafton had left the meeting prior to the final vote.
