Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Budgeting topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lewiston council approves preliminary 2026 budget, increases FY25 capital for fire extrication gear
Summary
After a public hearing, the Lewiston City Council unanimously approved a $1.63 million preliminary general fund budget for fiscal year 2026 and a $20,000 FY25 capital adjustment to buy extrication equipment for the fire department. Council also placed $10,000 for a new server in next year's budget to support digital records work.
The Lewiston City Council on May 20 unanimously approved the city's preliminary general-fund budget for fiscal year 2026 and a $20,000 adjustment to the FY25 capital projects budget to purchase extrication equipment for the fire department.
The action followed an open public hearing on both matters. Mayor Jeff Hall opened the hearing and staff answered questions about the two items and the city's overall finances. Council then voted 5-0 to increase FY25 capital by $20,000 to cover extrication equipment not awarded through a grant and to adopt the preliminary FY26 general-fund budget of $1,630,000.
Why this matters: the FY25 adjustment will allow the fire department to buy battery-powered extrication tools ("jaws of life") now rather than waiting for grant funding. The preliminary budget sets revenue and spending targets for the next fiscal year and drives department planning and public notices ahead of final adoption.
Key details and context - The council recorded the FY26 general fund total as $1,630,000. Staff explained approximate revenue sources: about $450,000 in property tax, $420,000 in sales tax, roughly $170,000 in Class C road funds, and about $180,000 in garbage receipts. Those figures were described in the meeting as approximations and included in staff's summary of the proposed budget. - The fire-department purchase was described as about $27,000 in equipment costs; the budget adjustment moves $20,000 within the capital account and the department will pursue additional grants. - Council and staff discussed a $10,000 line in next year's proposed budget for a new server to support a multi-month records-digitization effort. Mayor Hall said staff plans to scan current records and work backward, and city staff will pilot a temporary hire to support scanning under the mayor's direction.
Public comment and related items - Several members of the public used the hearing to raise other concerns. Gary Larson asked the council to study dust-control treatments (emulsion/slurry) for an unpaved local road and urged the city to update its Class C road mileage to ensure maximum formula allocations. A resident asked about unused vehicles on city right-of-way and urged enforcement. These were public comments; no formal action was taken on those items at the hearing.
Formal actions recorded - Increase FY25 capital projects budget by $20,000 for fire-department extrication equipment. Roll-call: Fizz: Yes; John: Yes; Ned: Yes; Brooke: Yes; Jana: Yes. Outcome: approved. - Approve preliminary FY26 general-fund budget of $1,630,000. Roll-call: Fizz: Yes; John: Yes; Ned: Yes; Brooke: Yes; Jana: Yes. Outcome: approved.
What's next Staff will continue grant applications for additional extrication equipment and will proceed with the records-digitization planning described in the meeting. The preliminary budget will be posted as required and returned to council for final adoption at the statutory time.
