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Vienna council adopts FY25-26 budget with targeted amendments after heated debate over staffing and spending priorities
Summary
Council approved the city's FY25-26 general fund and coal severance budgets, passed several amendment reallocations for parks projects and equipment, and rejected a motion for an across-the-board 10% cut to salaries and benefits.
The Vienna Common Council voted 6-1 to move forward with the 2025-26 general fund and coal severance budget, approving amendments made during the meeting that reallocated existing capital funds to parks roof repairs and approved a replacement tractor.
The council removed a $37,569 line item to refinish the recreation building floor and instead funded three roofing projects totaling $22,447; the leftover funds were used to buy a replacement 25-horsepower tractor for $15,122. All three amendments were approved by voice vote and recorded as passing unanimously. The meeting record shows the budget as presented, with the council's mid-meeting amendments, will be finalized in two weeks after staff balances the numbers.
Council debate grew heated over staffing levels and compensation. Councilman Henry Sassen argued structural changes were needed and said, "I ran for office for a reason. I wanna make a difference," while other council members and the mayor defended current staffing levels and the department heads' work. Mayor Chad African stressed fiscal prudence and operational realities and said, "If I can lay my head down on my pillow at night and feel good about what I did, then at the end of the day, that's what it was all for." The mayor and other council members noted the city's reserves and repeated that department heads had reduced budget requests compared with prior years.
Councilwoman Tammy Rhodes proposed a motion to reduce salaries and benefits across all departments by 10%; the motion failed for lack of a second and did not go to a vote. Council members said major, structural staffing reviews would require a longer process in coordination with human resources and finance rather than a last-minute amendment during budget approval.
The council also approved internal budget revision number 3 (moving funds between line items to repair a leaking gas line and reallocate training and supplies), and voted to accept a PRO program grant for law enforcement; both passed unanimously.
Finance staff (Amy Roberts) said the council would reconvene in two weeks for final approval after amendments are entered and the budget is balanced. The council instructed staff to prepare the final balanced budget for the scheduled final vote.
The meeting record shows multiple votes on discrete line-item amendments and that the larger budget adoption proceeds with the council's requested report-back and opportunity for further changes before final adoption.
