Post Falls council adopts FY2026 budget, approves $165.4 million appropriation

The Post Falls City Council on Sept. 2 voted unanimously to adopt its fiscal year 2026 budget, approving an ordinance that appropriates $165,432,629 to defray city expenses for the year beginning Oct. 1, 2025.

Councilors debated elements of the package before final votes, centering on police funding, transfers of cybersecurity and IT staff costs out of the police budget, and the explanation of large multi-year carryovers in enterprise funds.

Councilor Malloy moved to approve the fiscal-year budget as presented; the motion passed on roll call. The council then approved an ordinance adopting annual appropriations for FY2026 and directed the city clerk to assign an ordinance number and publish by summary. A separate fee resolution for FY2026 was also approved.

Why it matters: The adopted budget sets service levels, fees and capital spending for the coming 12 months and establishes the property-tax levy that funds general-city operations. Council and staff said the requested levy increase matches a standard 3% inflation adjustment and that the city’s reported $165.4 million total includes substantial carryover and enterprise fund balances.

Key details and council discussion - Adopted appropriation: $165,432,629 (ordinance adopted by motion and roll-call vote). City staff said roughly $130 million of that total are carryovers and multi-year project funds; the annual operating-level component is substantially lower. - Tax change: The budget as presented included a 3% inflation adjustment; staff projected that, because of new construction and growth, the typical Post Falls homeowner’s tax bill would hold steady or decline in the aggregate, though individual bills will vary with valuation changes. - Police budget: Councilors asked whether the police operating budget had been reduced from about $10.4 million to about $9.8 million. A city staff member explained the apparent decrease reflects three specific adjustments: (1) capital for vehicle purchases previously budgeted in the police fund (about $320,000) is not repeated in FY26; (2) a cybersecurity services…