Idaho Falls holds public hearings on fees and tentative 2025–26 budget; council removes downtown parking fee from consideration

Mayor (name not specified) opened a series of four public hearings Wednesday on proposed fee increases, two foregone-levy requests and the city’s tentative 2025–26 budget, and turned the presentations over to Municipal Services Director Pam Alexander and municipal staff.

Alexander told the council the tentative budget totals $389,600,000 and incorporates a 3% statutory property tax levy, growth and annexation revenue, a requested 1% ongoing foregone levy and a 1% one‑time capital foregone levy. The budget document, she said, includes market adjustments for non‑union and fire employees and anticipates enterprise rate increases for power, fiber, water, sanitation and wastewater. Alexander said the city’s draft budget book (about 190 pages) is posted on the city website for public review.

Why it matters: the council will vote on the fee schedule and the tentative budget at its meeting in two weeks; changes adopted then will set the not‑to‑exceed spending authority for fiscal 2025–26.

Key proposals and staff presentations

- Fees: City staff outlined proposed new or increased fees that require public hearing when a proposed rate is new or increases more than 5%. Proposed changes ranged across departments: airport customer facility charge increase from $4 to $6 and new badging/parking/printing fees; parks and recreation increases of 3–5% for certain passes and golf programs; water, sanitation and wastewater fee adjustments; Idaho Falls Power space/demand/service charge increases (2–10%); fiber charge increases (3–9%); and Fire Department EMS fee increases (5%). The city clerk confirmed the hearing notice was published as required by state statute on August 2 and 9.

- Foregone levies: Staff described two foregone requests. The first is a request to levy 1% of ongoing foregone authority to cover part of the cost of 12 firefighter positions after the SAFER grant from FEMA sunsets; staff estimated the ongoing amount at approximately $506,638. The second is a request to use part of the three‑percent one‑time capital foregone authority (staff proposed $500,000) to help fund a storage facility to protect fire equipment; staff said construction could take about 18 months and the $500,000 would be a portion of the facility cost.

Council action on downtown parking fees

During the fee hearing staff noted that the Downtown Development Corporation (IFDDC) requested postponement of a proposed downtown on‑street parking fee included in Section 2.16 of the published fee schedule. Councilor Francis moved and a colleague seconded a motion to remove Section 2.16 items a–d from consideration at both hearings (effectively postponing the downtown parking fee from the fee hearings scheduled for the meeting and the adoption vote in two weeks). The roll call vote carried (aye). The clerk recorded the motion as carried; the council directed that the item not be considered at final fee adoption two weeks later.

Public testimony

Several members of the public spoke during the budget hearing: business owner Terry Ireland introduced herself and identified a parking petition she leads; Nan Hancock raised concerns about a reduction in street funding and said snow removal quality needs improvement; Mel Bowling urged continued or increased investment in parks and expressed concern about an apparent 17% parks expenditure decrease in the draft; and one speaker (using the first name Christian) urged large cuts to the police department and criticized enforcement practices. Director Alexander and the mayor framed the hearings as informational and said final votes would occur in two weeks; the city clerk reminded attendees that written comments would be added to the record.

What the hearings do not decide tonight

Council members and staff stressed that the hearings were for public input: the fee schedule, foregone levies and the tentative budget will be formally acted on at the council’s meeting in two weeks. Staff also noted state statute requirements for public notices and for how foregone authority is applied (1% ongoing authority; up to 3% one‑time capital authority for qualifying capital projects).

Next steps

The hearings were closed with no further testimony. The council will consider final ordinances/resolutions to set the fee schedule, adopt the tentative budget (not to exceed amount) and decide whether to approve the requested foregone levies at its meeting two weeks from the hearing.

Ending note: staff emphasized the budget book and related materials are available on the city website and that written comments will be included in the official record for council consideration at the adoption hearing.