Hayden council adopts FY2026 budget with 0% levy after approving $68,752 in cuts

HAYDEN, Idaho — The Hayden City Council voted Aug. 26 to adopt its fiscal year 2026 budget with a 0% increase to the city’s property-tax levy after approving a set of spending cuts totaling roughly $68,752.28.

Council Member Ed DePriest proposed the cuts and moved the measure to adopt his package of line-item reductions; after an initial motion to deny the proposal failed, the council approved DePriest’s package by roll call vote. The package reduces or suspends funding in several nonoperational accounts and relies on the city’s fund balance to provide contingency for later requests from departments.

DePriest, who presented the proposal to the council, said the cuts are intended to avoid a one-year tax increase while leaving money in reserve. “I hope every looks like everybody received the, proposed, roughly $68,752.28, which is pretty specific…,” DePriest said, and added that the reductions would “end up… in our fund balance, k, which is our reserve, our savings account.” He also said the package is meant as a one-year measure because he expects future ballot measures related to the county sheriff and other needs: “I’m gonna be quite honest with the people about this … we’re gonna need to go to the ballot anyway.”

City Administrator Lisa told the council staff had been consulted about the proposed cuts but expressed…