Payson council approves tentative FY 2025–26 expenditure limit, leaves major projects as placeholders

Payson’s Common Council on May 28 approved a tentative budget and an expenditure limitation for fiscal year 2025–26, passing Resolution No. 30451 by a 6–1 vote.

Dana (staff member), who presented the budget to the council, said the tentative budget “establishes the expenditure limitations for the town for next fiscal year.” The vote establishes the maximum the town can spend in the coming fiscal year; councilors may adopt a final budget at or below that ceiling when they meet again.

The tentative numbers presented to council include a general-fund expenditure limit of $44,000,000 and a combined set of funds that staff said brings total planned expenditures into the range discussed at the meeting (Dana described the tentative budget as balanced). Dana told the council that the town’s tentative budget relies on a mix of revenue and fund balance and noted differences between the town’s accounting schedules and the state budget schedules. Key items flagged in the presentation included:

- HEERF fund: Dana said the HEERF (federal relief) tentative budget showed about $11.2 million in revenues for 2025–26 and…