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Torrington approves FY2026 budget on second reading; council also approves routine bills
Summary
The council approved the fiscal year 2026 budget on second reading and approved city bills for the period ending June 3, 2025. Council directed staff that the budget remains a working document and that final numbers will appear at third reading.
The Torrington City Council approved on second reading an ordinance providing appropriations for the 2026 fiscal year, a document staff described as "fluid" and subject to further revisions before final adoption. Budget staff presented the current working totals and a list of adjustments made since the ordinance's first reading; the council voted to approve the ordinance on second reading.
Finance staff member Lynette Strecker summarized changes since the first reading and presented the working totals, saying the ordinance presented is "for a total budget of $53,817,269." Strecker told the council the city still awaited a final property-tax estimate from the assessor and that staff would present updated and finalized numbers at the third reading. She listed major fund requirements in the current draft: a general fund requirement of $12,457,970; water $10,110,522; sewer $14,127,735; electric $9,306,979; sanitation $2,862,908; and smaller enterprise funds (airport, golf course, pool, ambulance, cemetery) totaling $4,951,155.
Strecker also outlined line-item adjustments since first reading, including revenue adjustments to the sanitation fund, postponed or removed equipment purchases (mowers, plow, scale software), and an application of gas tax revenue to the chip-seal program. She said staff increased projected workers' compensation and law-enforcement retirement costs consistent with state statute changes and a 3% health-insurance increase.
Councilman Deal moved to approve the FY2026 budget ordinance on second reading; Councilman Victorin seconded. The council approved the ordinance on second reading by voice vote.
The council also approved two routine votes: approval of bills for May 21–June 3, 2025 (motion by Councilman Deal, second by Councilman Victorin) and the earlier motion to table the planning-commission ordinance until June 17 (motion moved by Councilman Victorin, second by Councilman Deal). The bills were approved after a short discussion about pool equipment and parking-lot striping; the fire chief explained a recent vendor change for striping after past donations of labor ended.
Strecker said staff will present a final budget package and all administrative-fee calculations at the third reading so the general fund meets its reserve target and transfers to enterprise funds are finalized. The council approved the second-reading ordinance and directed staff to return with final numbers for third reading.
