Torrington council approves FY2026 budget on first reading amid $500,000 shortfall

The Torrington City Council approved on first reading an ordinance to appropriate funds for fiscal year 2026, with a 4-1 vote.

The ordinance would set appropriations for the city's general and enterprise funds for the 2026 fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. Clerk Treasurer Lynette Strecker told the council the draft budget remains a 'moving target' and that staff must still finalize wage and health-insurance adjustments, property and liability insurance and an administrative fee for some funds.

Strecker said the draft shows a roughly $500,000 gap that staff are working to close. 'At this point' she said, 'we still need to do the wage and insurance, health insurance adjustments, as well as the property and liability insurance adjustments. I will need to adjust cash carryover and also, calculate the administrative fee for the funds. Once that's all done, and we get the budget balanced.'

Councilman Victorin, who asked the clerk to explain the drivers of the year-over-year increase, said the council should make clear to the public what is causing the rise in appropriations. Victorin and Strecker said large capital projects are the primary cause.

Strecker and other council members identified several major projects covered in the draft: street reconstruction and related water, sewer and storm improvements on East D Street; continuation and hoped-for completion of the wastewater treatment facility; airport projects including a fixed-base operator (FBO) building (about 98% funded) and taxiway work; and planned equipment purchases in the electric fund. Strecker also told the council she has estimated property-tax revenue at $290,834 amid a 25% reduction in property taxes and said final assessed values from the county assessor will update that figure before third reading.

Mayor Herb Dobie framed the budget as funding core services. 'This city is a big machine with a lot of moving parts,' he said, citing water, sewer, electric, garbage, police and fire as services the city provides to protect 'the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of this community.'

Strecker said staff will hold another budget work session on May 28 to close outstanding items and expects the ordinance to come back for second reading at the council's first meeting in June. The first-reading vote was recorded as four ayes and one nay; the transcript does not identify which member cast the lone no vote.

Tally: 4 ayes, 1 nay on first reading.

Next steps: staff will update revenue estimates when the county assessor provides assessed values, finalize insurance and wage numbers and present the ordinance for second reading.