Alta budget committee previews FY2026 draft: $100,000 property-tax lift and larger reserve draw discussed

Alta Budget Committee reviewed the town's draft FY2026 budget at a May 7 meeting and discussed a proposed $100,000 increase in property-tax revenue, a planned larger use of reserves and preliminary budget items tied to the town's pending acquisition of Our Lady of the Snow (OLS).

The committee discussed revenue and spending assumptions that Jen (staff member) presented and flagged two near-term numbers for the council: the property-tax line would be increased by $100,000 and the proposal to use general-fund reserves would rise from $225,000 to $296,000. Roger (Budget committee chair) described the timing for tax decisions, saying, "Truth in taxation is a drawn out process," and reminded members that the council must complete related steps later this year.

Why it matters: the committee's review will feed a council presentation next week and the town must adopt a tentative budget in August. The property-tax change and reserve draw affect the town's ability to fund capital projects and operating needs during a period when the committee is also considering significant facilities and infrastructure investments.

Most important facts - Revenue and reserves: Committee staff presented draft FY2026 revenue projections that include a $100,000 increase in property-tax revenue and a planned transfer from reserves that rises from $225,000 to $296,000 to help balance the draft budget. - Our Lady of the Snow (OLS): The draft includes placeholder operating revenue and expenses tied to OLS. Committee materials show an OLS "use fees" line in charges for services; staff characterized those as preliminary and dependent on a lease agreement with ACE. The packet listed a placeholder amount for OLS-use fees in the general fund; the exact lease terms and final revenue projections were not yet settled. - Shuttle program: Staff told the committee they expect the shuttle vendor will increase rates next year and that the draft budget currently assumes an 8% increase in shuttle program costs (the vendor's first-year contract allowance permits increases up to 10% annually). - Council compensation and wages: The draft includes modest increases in council stipends and references a broader wage-study and the town's efforts to budget for additional staffing and snow-related overtime.

What the committee directed or will do next - Staff said it will present the draft budget to the full council next week and that the council will adopt a tentative budget in August as part of the town's truth-in-taxation process. Committee members asked staff to provide later iterations with per-$1,000 and typical-household examples for property-tax impacts. - The packet and discussion leave several OLS-related items provisional pending a lease agreement with ACE and further council direction.

Context and caveats - The committee did not adopt the budget at this meeting; the session was a review and preview for the council presentation next week. Several numbers in the packet were flagged as provisional and some capital-project lines were still being reconciled into the master capital plan. Staff said some line items (for example, capital transfers and OLS capital work) will be refined before the council sees the final tentative budget.

Ending - The budget committee approved minutes from its April 24 meeting and then moved on to more detailed capital and utility-plan discussions. Staff will return to the council next week with an updated draft for the tentative-budget step and further details on property-tax exhibits and household impact examples.