Baker council introduces a slate of budget ordinances, cites intended 4% pay increase for civil-service employees

The City of Baker Council introduced a series of budget ordinances that will be subject to further review and public hearing, including the general fund, special revenue funds, the capital program, utilities, cemetery, and sewer budgets.

Council members formally introduced the following ordinances by number: 2025-7 (general fund operating budget), 2025-8 (special revenue funds), 2025-9 (capital budget and capital program for fiscal year ending 6/30/2026), 2025-10 (utility fund budget), 2025-11 (cemetery fund budget), and 2025-12 (sewer revenue fund budget). Each introduction was followed by a roll-call voice vote recorded as carried.

In presenting the budget framework, the mayor told the council the administration had “found a way that we're gonna get 4% raise across the board, for all civil service workers” and said the council would review contractor pay at a later date. The mayor emphasized priorities for “public safety” — defined as fire, police and public works — and said much of the budget focus would be on infrastructure and recreation projects in parks. The mayor said the budget will sit for three weeks before the next formal public hearing; the mayor indicated the next hearing may be scheduled for June 24.

Each ordinance was introduced (motions made by councilmembers as called) and recorded as carrying: members voted by district (roll calls recorded in the meeting record) and the council moved on to the next ordinance item after each successful introduction.

No final budget adoptions were recorded at this meeting; these were introductions and will return for further public review and vote at future meetings. The council encouraged members and the public to review the ordinance texts; the mayor and staff offered to meet with members or residents for questions ahead of subsequent hearings.