Stafford council adopts 2025–26 budget, adds $750,000 for residential streets and 2% COLA; vote 6-1

The Stafford City Council adopted the city’s fiscal 2025–26 budget on Monday after council members approved a set of amendments that increase employee cost‑of‑living adjustments, allocate a one‑time street and drainage pilot, and reallocate proposed city attorney funding.

The council voted 6–1 to approve the budget as amended. Mayor Matthew moved the motion, which included removing the proposed in‑house city attorney line, adding a 2% cost‑of‑living adjustment for employees instead of 1%, and setting aside $750,000 for a residential streets and drainage pilot program funded in part from the city’s recent sales‑tax audit revenue.

The amendments were presented and debated at length before the final vote. Councilman Tim Bostick proposed the $750,000 residential streets and drainage pilot, saying, “I’m gonna propose that we add additional $750,000 to a pilot residential street drainage program, from the $1,300,000 in revenue that we have.” CFO Alka Shaw provided fund‑balance figures during the discussion, saying the “ending fund balance available ending fund balance will be 11,100,000.0,” and explaining how proposed uses would change the city’s reserve levels.

Why it matters: council members and residents framed the vote as a choice between using one‑time funds to address long‑deferred infrastructure and…