West Haven council adopts tentative FY2025–26 budget after trimming generator and parking costs

The West Haven City Council on May 20 adopted a tentative budget for fiscal years 2025–26 after the council directed two specific changes: removal of a planned generator project and a reduction in the proposed covered parking line item.

City Manager Sean told the council the draft allocates about $10,000,000 in the general fund for anticipated revenues and expenses, a $12,300,000 capital projects fund and a $637,000 storm drain fund. He said staff will update the spreadsheet attached to the tentative budget to reflect the changes discussed at the meeting.

Council members spent the bulk of the discussion on parks and recreation capital needs. Council members debated whether to surface the three softball/baseball infields with “diamond dust” material (a material that staff said costs about $14,000 per field in material only) and whether to do one field as a test or all three. Proponents said the material should reduce cancellations after heavy rain and improve field playability; others urged better baseline maintenance before committing the full amount. City staff and councilors also confirmed scoreboard replacements are funded in the current program and that sprinkler repairs and additional maintenance work are planned.

Council members also reviewed a request for new bucking chutes for the rodeo arena. Staff reported a contractor quote and materials consideration, and said price estimates for replacement chutes reviewed with vendors start near $65,000 (the staff presentation noted alternatives and that higher-spec options would cost more). Some council members said the existing chutes have been maintained and could remain in service if repairs continue; others supported replacement now to avoid future maintenance cycles.

Council discussion included staffing and maintenance capacity. City Manager Sean said staff are analyzing the amount of man-hours required to maintain the city’s growing inventory of parks and facilities and acknowledged “we are probably understaffed” for the level of upkeep councilors want. Several council members pressed for clearer staffing and maintenance plans before adding new capital projects.

Other line items reviewed included a planned reduction to covered parking costs for the city offices (councilors discussed both a per-stall figure and a total line item). At the meeting a motion to approve the tentative budget specified removal of the generator project and a reduction in covered-parking to $840,800 as the number to be reflected in the attached budget spreadsheet. The motion passed on a roll call vote with all council members present voting aye.

The council’s action was procedural: adoption of the tentative budget allows staff to finalize the spreadsheet and circulate the corrected version with the minutes. Staff said subsequent adjustments could be attached before the final adoption process.

The council also discussed a number of smaller capital and operating requests that remain under evaluation, including possible upgrades to park Wi‑Fi, street light additions requested by residents and coordination with Weber County on drainage/road projects. Staff will return with updated budget documents and any additional changes for the council to consider during the final adoption process.