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Interlaken Council approves amended 2026 budget, preserves current tax rate
Summary
The Interlaken Town Council on Aug. 25 unanimously approved an amended fiscal 2026 budget that preserves the town's current tax rate, increases transfers to road and water reserves and reflects unspent funds from the prior year.
The Interlaken Town Council unanimously approved an amendment to the town's fiscal 2026 budget on Tuesday, preserving the current property tax rate rather than enacting a planned tax increase.
The amended budget keeps the town's existing tax rate after staff said the town missed a state deadline that would have been required to hold a public hearing for a tax increase. "We were not informed in time of the new state requirement for public hearing notifications ... we were not able to increase taxes this year," Staff member Bart said during the presentation.
Councilmember (unnamed) moved to approve the amendment, and a second motion carried without opposition.
The amendment raises anticipated revenue in several line items based on lower-than-budgeted spending in the prior year and revised estimates for road-related taxes. Among changes Bart described were a reduction in attorney fees, an increase in the road repair and maintenance budget to cover scheduled paving, patching, crack sealing and top coating (he cited a total road expenditure figure of about $88,000), and increases in transfers to capital reserves. Bart said the town is shifting to include a contribution to the capital improvement reserve fund for roads where none had been budgeted previously, and will transfer roughly $150,000 to the water reserve fund from water enterprise revenues.
Bart also noted an unresolved receivable from Bergie Hill Ranches for snowplowing and brush removal; he said the HOA owes the town for services and he may pursue legal options if payment is not received. "They owe us about $818,000," Bart said, adding he has been unable to obtain the payment from the HOA's managers.
Council members asked clarifying questions about the $2.10 figure cited for a rate (Bart said the figure reflects current collections rather than an adopted increase) and about ending fund balances. Bart said the town's projected ending balance will be about $48,000 higher than originally planned, and transportation reserves will grow from roughly $85,000 to about $250,000 under the amended plan.
Votes at a glance - Motion to approve the Aug. 25, 2025 meeting agenda: passed unanimously (record shows voice votes of "aye"; individual votes not recorded by name in the transcript). - Motion to approve compensation public hearing minutes (07/08/2025): passed unanimously (voice vote; individual votes not recorded). - Motion to approve regular meeting minutes (07/08/2025): passed unanimously (voice vote; individual votes not recorded). - Motion to approve the 2026 budget amendment (revenue adjustments, transfers and no tax increase): passed unanimously (voice vote; individual votes not recorded).
Why it matters The amendment reallocates funds to transportation and water reserves and avoids a tax increase that staff had originally planned to propose. The council's decision preserves the town's current tax levy for the coming year while increasing reserves and setting aside funds for paving and road maintenance projects.
What's next Bart said staff will post the amended budget online for public review and will continue to follow up on outstanding receivables and planned road projects. Council members did not schedule additional actions tied to this vote during the meeting.
