Green River staff outline conservative budget strategy, urge council to set priorities as industrial projects loom

City staff told the Green River City Council on May 15 that revenue forecasts remain conservative while the city prepares for possible large industrial developments and several multi‑million dollar capital needs.

At a workshop presentation, a staff member summarized where the city stands on revenues and expenditures and asked the council to help prioritize projects for fiscal years 2026–2032. The presentation covered sales tax trends, enterprise fund performance, sinking funds for large purchases and a proposal to conduct a midyear budget review once June tax receipts are finalized.

City staff said the general fund was projecting about $19 million in revenue and roughly $22 million in expenditures, with an unrestricted fund balance of about $2.8 million and an estimated $465,000 operating shortfall “as of today.” The water fund was described as roughly balanced — about $3.3 million in revenue and $3.2 million in expenditures — while wastewater showed a negative unrestricted balance reported in the audit of about $1.4 million, even though the wastewater fund’s total balance was described as slightly more than $15 million with much of that restricted to property, plant and equipment. The presenter…