Advisory board reviews revenue options, personnel cost projections and public‑safety staffing concerns

At a workshop-style meeting on April 16, the Budget Advisory Board reviewed revenue estimating recommendations and a preliminary personnel-cost projection for fiscal 2026. Board members and staff discussed several revenue lines that staff suggested the commission could consider for increases, and staff described how department decision packages will be presented during the May department meetings.

Revenue items discussed included business tax (estimated $3.5 million), building‑permit fees (declining in recent years), parks and recreation user fees (youth program and swim fees last raised in 2017), and other service fees. Staff members recommended the board consider whether to advise the commission on selective fee increases and requested the board identify priority lines for deeper analysis; the board volunteered to undertake benchmarking against comparable cities and to request departmental detail for specific fee categories.

Staff described the process and schedule for budget review: departments will…