Huntington City Council approves FY25 adjustments, FY26 budget and a slate of administrative items including pavilion purchase

Huntington City Council adopted two budget resolutions and a tax-rate certification and approved several administrative items at its June 18 meeting.

Budget and tax actions: The council opened a public hearing and approved Resolution 4-2025, adjusting the fiscal year 2025 budget, and Resolution 5-2025, adopting the fiscal year 2026 budget. Council members then approved Resolution 6-2025 to accept the county-certified tax rate of 0.000697 for fiscal year 2026. The council—s public hearing presented proposed revenue and expenditure changes across general government, public safety, highways/public improvements, parks and recreation, capital projects and utility funds. The mayor noted capital-project carryover from ARPA funds for a project expected to be spent in fiscal 2026.

Votes and administrative approvals: The council approved several nonbudget motions during the meeting:

- Consent agenda: approval of meeting minutes (May 21, 2025) and budget workshop minutes (May 14, 2025) and city claims and financial review (motion passed). - Business license: the council approved a home-based food-sale business (macarons) after staff confirmed the applicant has a food-handler permit and state sales tax number. - Donation: the council approved a $150 city sponsorship for a Huntington student who attended American Legion—s Girls State (applicant requested $475; the council adopted the $150 group rate). - Bank signers: with outgoing city recorder Janine Hansen retiring, the council authorized replacing her as an approved signer and adding new staff member Brandy Wagner on city bank accounts; clerks were instructed to prepare the bank letter and provide minutes/copies as required by the banks. - Non-election medical plan policy: the council approved a policy allowing employees who decline city-offered health insurance to receive 25% of the qualified medical premium added to pay; changes to coverage are allowed only at open enrollment (prior to July 1) or after qualifying life events (birth/adoption, marriage/divorce that triggers loss of coverage, loss of other minimum essential coverage). - Payments: the council approved payment for a curb-and-sidewalk project on Highway 30 (discussion noted the invoice rose from an original figure and the council voted to pay the billed amount); the council also approved payment of a sandblast invoice for roughening the splash pad and pavilion concrete (invoice discussed around $86,104 to $86,340 and payment motion passed). - Pavilion purchase: the council approved purchase of a 35-by-40-foot pavilion from a local bidder for $9,500; the seller will contribute $2,500 toward the cost and the council said funds will come from a county grant allotment earmarked for rodeo-grounds improvements. - Zoning clearance form: the council approved an updated zoning clearance form that includes an Amway County box. - Mobile-home ordinance: council voted to table changes to the mobile-home ordinance pending attorney review.

Several motions were seconded and passed by voice vote; where a nay was recorded it was noted in the minutes. No council member requested roll-call tallies for each administrative motion during the meeting. Council members and staff asked clerks to provide bank paperwork, minutes or other documentation required by lenders and to return with more detailed cost documentation on larger capital payments as needed.

The meeting closed with departmental reports and recognition of outgoing city recorder Janine Hansen and welcome to incoming recorder Brandy Wagner.