Hurricane City Council adopts $120.9 million 2025–26 budget and approves wage increases

The Hurricane City Council approved a $120.9 million budget for fiscal year 2025–26 and adopted amendments to the 2024–25 budget during its regular meeting, voting unanimously on both resolutions after staff presentations and a public‑hearing period with no public commenters.

The council voted on two formal measures: Resolution 25‑26, approving the 2025–26 fiscal year budget, and Resolution 25‑27, adopting amendments to the 2024–25 fiscal year budget. Both measures passed on roll call after council members registered “yes.”

Paige, a city finance staff member, briefed the council on the 2025–26 proposal, saying the city’s consolidated budget rose to about $120,901,188 after adjustments and one‑time capital projects. “That increase is indicative of all these big projects that we've been pushing through,” Paige told the council, citing large enterprise‑fund infrastructure projects, a new pool construction fund and a separate airport fund created to meet Federal Aviation Administration expectations.

Why it matters: The adopted budget funds multiple multiyear infrastructure projects, establishes a separate airport fund (Fund 21) that staff said was created to comply with FAA requirements, and includes wage and benefit increases intended to keep municipal staff competitive in a tight labor market.

Major items and wage changes - Police wages: The council approved wage adjustments that include a planned $3.01 per hour raise for police officers effective with the July pay period, and other market adjustments to move officers within their pay scales. Paige said those increases average roughly 6–7% for much of the department and that a few positions showed higher adjustments to reach market parity. - Citywide cost‑of‑living: The budget incorporates a 3% cost‑of‑living/merit adjustment scheduled for January for all staff. - Executive/appointed officials: Staff explained that, to comply with state posting requirements, the budget notice lists “up to 11%” for executives because the highest individual proposed increase approached that number; staff said the actual negotiated/approved increases were lower and that most executive increases were nearer to 9% or less.

Paige and other staff described where the increases appear in the budget: enterprise funds for utilities and major capital projects account for roughly 67–70% of the overall increase; the building fund includes amounts set aside for a new pool and campus repairs; impact fees and higher interest earnings raised revenues in some capital funds.

Budget amendments adopted Council members also approved amendments to the 2024–25 budget. The amendments reflect higher-than-anticipated revenues in several funds (sales taxes, impact fees and interest income), reimbursements from interlocal agreements, and additional one‑time costs such as storm‑drain and water‑system repairs.

Paige outlined a planned transfer of about $4 million out of the general fund to reduce fund‑balance ratios and move surplus to capital and lease funds. “We’re only supposed to keep up to 35% in our general fund,” Paige said; staff proposed moving excess into other funds and toward planned capital expenses such as pool construction and airport bond paydown.

Votes at a glance - Resolution 25‑26 (Approve FY2025–26 budget): Motion by Councilman Faucette; second by Councilman Thomas. Roll call: Councilman Preet — yes; Councilman Ellerman — yes; Councilman Faucette — yes; Councilman Thomas — yes; other members recorded as present and voting yes. Outcome: approved. - Resolution 25‑27 (Adopt amendments to FY2024–25 budget): Motion by Councilman Foster; second by Councilman Ellerman. Roll call: Councilman Preet — yes; Councilman Ellerman — yes; Councilman Faucette — yes; Councilman Thomas — yes. Outcome: approved.

Council and staff comments Council members and staff framed the wage changes as responses to regional labor pressures: “Their job is getting tougher. We need good people … I’m okay with it,” one council member said in support of police pay adjustments. Staff noted certain enterprise funds will outlay project costs in advance and later seek reimbursements from grants (for example, NRCS and other water grants).

Staff also pointed to significant increases in impact fees and connection fees in water and power funds, the result of ongoing growth. Council members acknowledged the budget reflects several multiyear projects and said spreading equipment and capital costs into dedicated lease or equipment funds would reduce year‑to‑year budget shocks.

What’s next Staff will implement the adopted budget and wage changes consistent with the timelines described (police raises effective in July; a 3% COLA in January). The council discussed continued oversight of capital projects and transfers as staff executes the adopted plan.

This article is based on council discussion and the public hearing during the Hurricane City Council meeting. Direct quotes and budget figures are taken from staff presentations and roll‑call statements recorded in the meeting transcript.