Moab City Council adopts tentative 2025–26 budget, approves new pay plan; elected‑official schedule passes 3‑2

The Moab City Council on May 13 adopted a tentative budget for fiscal year 2025–26, approved a new step‑based employee pay plan and passed a separate ordinance adopting salary schedules for elected and executive officials. The council also approved several consent items, including a letter of support for funding to replace the 300 South Bridge.

City Manager Michael (presenting staff's proposal) told the council the pay plan converts the city's prior range system to a 12‑step structure intended to slow long‑term salary growth and improve predictability. “We're recommending a COLA of 3.5%,” Michael said, explaining the recommendation as “3% based on current cost of living and a .5% to do a makeup.” He also described the merit/step increase system: “If you increase 1 step, that would be a 3.75% increase.”

On the budget, Michael described the tentative budget as “lean,” with the citywide operating budget down 5.74% overall and the capital improvement plan reduced about 38% from the prior year. He said the general fund budget was balanced and up about 1.28% year over year; water, sewer and similar enterprise funds are projecting reserve growth to cover upcoming projects. The presentation noted a total full‑time‑equivalent (FTE) count of 133.25 (about 99 employees in headcount) and one new grant‑funded position supported by a Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) at roughly $150,000 per year for five years.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (items 4.1–4.4: proclamation for National Public Works Week; ratification of letter supporting funding to replace 300 South Bridge; approval of minutes from April 22, 2025; approval of bills totaling $1,465,195.12): motion to approve recorded as by Councilmember Jason, second by Councilmember Caitlin; outcome — approved, voice vote noted as 5–0. The proclamation was read by Mayor Joette Langanese during the meeting.

- Ordinance 2025‑05 (adopting pay plan schedules for city employees, FY 2025–26): after a public hearing and staff presentation, Council moved and approved the ordinance; roll‑call vote was 5–0 in favor (Councilmembers Caitlin, Colin, Tawny, Luke and Jason voted yes). Motion by Councilmember Colin; second by Councilmember Tawny; outcome — adopted.

- Ordinance 2025‑06 (adopting salary schedules for elected and executive officials, FY 2025–26): after a brief public hearing, the ordinance passed on roll call 3–2. Yes: Councilmembers Caitlin, Tawny and Luke. No: Councilmembers Colin and Jason. (The transcript does not clearly name the motion maker for this item; the second was recorded as Councilmember Caitlin.) Outcome — adopted 3–2.

- Resolution O4‑2025 (adopting the tentative budget for FY 2025–26 and setting the final public hearing): motion by Councilmember Jason, second by Councilmember Luke; outcome — approved, roll call 5–0. The council set the final budget hearing for June 10, 2025.

Council discussion and staff clarifications

Council members praised staff for the budget presentation and the city manager's hands‑on work in reviewing expenditures. Michael told the council the transition to steps is intended to “flatten the curve” of salary growth and make costs more predictable; Danny, a city staff member who has worked with the pay system, told council members the plan is “more transparent, more regulated” compared with the former range/points approach.

Staff also described several administrative and accounting changes in the tentative budget: creation of a dedicated wrap‑tax fund so dedicated revenues are easier to track (approximately $1,000,000 of net wrap‑tax proceeds proposed to move to the new fund), a consolidated vehicle fund to centralize vehicle capital purchases and upfits, and a smaller capital improvement program this year after a larger project year in 2024. The MRAC solar project was removed from the CIP in the version presented at the meeting. Michael said salary and benefit costs are projected to rise 5.4% year over year (reflecting the step/merit and COLA proposals) but that overall operating expenditures across all funds fall due to other reductions.

What passed and next steps

The council approved the tentative budget so staff can submit required documents and prepare a final budget for adoption after the public hearing on June 10, 2025. The pay plan and salary schedules will be implemented per the ordinances adopted; the elected/executive salary ordinance passed on a 3–2 roll call. Any further changes to the tentative budget can be made at the June final hearing.

All votes and motions recorded in the transcript have been listed above with the outcomes recorded in the council roll calls or meeting voice votes. The transcript does not show additional follow‑up motions tied to these items at the May 13 meeting.