Cleveland adopts tentative 2025–26 budget, outlines use of county COVID funds and EMS contribution

The Cleveland Town Council adopted a tentative 2025–26 budget on May 8 and approved a plan to use the town’s portion of county COVID-relief funds for repairs to the pavilion roof, playground equipment, shade structures and restroom repairs at the town park.

Council members said the council will submit minutes and an itemized plan to county commissioners so the county can release the funds. Council members and a town staff member said the town’s request to the county is in the roughly $30,000 range for Cleveland’s portion of available funds; council discussion named a ballpark figure of about $32,000 but participants said the exact amount could be adjusted before submission.

The tentative budget approved by motion includes a $25,000 placeholder for rewiring a municipal building (not yet supported by bids) and accounts for the personnel pay increases the council discussed. Staff proposed a 2.5% across-the-board percentage increase for non-office employees and a flat $1-per-hour raise for two office positions (clerk and treasurer), effective July 1. Council discussion confirmed the budget as presented can sustain those wage changes in its current form and that a public hearing to adopt a final budget will be scheduled in June.

Council members also agreed to include in next year’s budget an annual contribution for county emergency medical services. Staff said the county has sought $50,000 total from towns in the county to support EMS operations and that Cleveland’s share, calculated by population percentage, would be $2,565.65 annually. Council directed staff to add a separate line item for that amount in the draft budget.

Council and staff discussed how COVID-relief funding may be used. The council identified the pavilion roof, broken playground equipment, shade structures and restroom repairs as qualifying community-focused uses, and discussed options ranging from stable shade installations to short-term portable toilets while the town pursues longer-term restroom fixes. County staff present on the meeting said the council must submit the minutes and a project plan showing how each dollar will be spent for the county to release the funds.

The council’s tentative budget notes that some line items are estimates: the $25,000 rewiring figure is a guesstimate pending contractor bids, and other capital projects (including a pavilion and a retaining wall) will depend on grant availability and volunteer labor. Council members discussed prioritizing the pavilion and park restroom repairs for the COVID-relief funds.

The council voted to adopt the tentative budget by motion; the vote was recorded as a motion and second and approved in the meeting (voice vote). The council also directed staff to prepare a resolution and public hearing notice for the required June public hearing on the final budget.

Votes at a glance

- Approved a plan to request the town’s share of county COVID-relief funds for pavilion roof repairs, playground equipment, shade structures and restroom repairs: motion passed (voice vote); county submission requires minutes and an itemized spending plan. - Adopted tentative 2025–26 budget: motion passed (voice vote); public hearing to follow in June. - Agreed to include an annual EMS contribution of $2,565.65 for Cleveland in next year’s budget: discussed and added to the draft budget.

Council members and staff said they will finalize dollar amounts and the formal resolution language before the June public hearing. The council’s tentative adoption means the town may make final adjustments at the public hearing before adopting an ordinance or resolution to set final appropriations.

Ending

Staff said they will circulate the draft resolution and the finalized tentative budget to council members by email before the next meeting so members can review the exact figures and the public hearing materials.