Columbus council adopts FY25‑26 budget, sets property tax hearing; approves downtown lighting project and other measures

Columbus City Council on Sept. 2 adopted its fiscal year 2025‑26 budget, approved related fee and pay plans and set a joint property‑tax hearing with an asking amount of $7,562,660.83.

The council approved the budget and associated items after the Committee of the Whole recommended adoption. Mayor Boeckley, speaking about the choices behind the budget, said, "when you take a $75,000,000 operating budget and have $200,000 in what you would call a positive balance, it's not much." The council then voted to set a joint property tax hearing for Sept. 18, 2025, with the stated asking amount of $7,562,660.83.

The budget vote followed approvals earlier in the meeting of the fee schedule, the pay plan and the capital improvement plan; council members moved and seconded the committee reports and adopted them without extended discussion.

Also on the consent and business agenda, the council:

- Recommended approval to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission for a retail class D liquor license for Tienda e Panaderia Suarez LLC, 1709‑20 Third Street, naming Javier Suarez Maldonado as manager. Manager Angelica Palacios spoke briefly at the public hearing and said she had not…