Council approves second reading of $19.003M budget; council sets June 9 special meeting for final vote

City Manager Tom Sarvey and finance staff presented the city's proposed 2025-26 municipal budget to the Rawlins City Council on June 3. Sarvey said the proposed general-fund expenditures total $19,003,000 and highlighted several additions since the earlier draft: $200,000 in the dangerous building fund to begin cleanup of the Lawrence property, $315,000 estimated for technology upgrades (servers, switches and computer replacements), and a $165,000 carryover from VFW field expenditures.

Sarvey said the budget includes $11.7 million identified previously as deferred maintenance with about $1.3 million still outstanding; maintenance and a second-phase request of approximately $595,000 were included in the current submission. He also said five water grants are reflected in the enterprise fund section so grant expenditures will not require separate budget amendments.

Council discussed a $22,400 addition to staff and operate a clubhouse concession area (limited menu and tournament service); some council members raised concerns that using city resources to operate concessions could compete with private businesses and suggested rotating food trucks or leasing the concession to local vendors. The manager and staff said the proposal was intended to provide simple on-site food service for golfers and tournament participants and that the city holds the liquor license for that area.

Sarvey said vehicle purchases included in the capital list were moved to "unassigned" pending an inventory that will be presented to council before any purchases are made. The fire truck purchase remains in process.

Council approved the second reading and waived formal reading; online vote recorded the motion as passing with five yeas and one nay (Vice Mayor Garner recorded as the lone dissent). The council scheduled the third and final reading and a special meeting for final budget adoption on Monday, June 9, at 6 p.m.