McCall council adopts $42.24 million FY26 budget, raises golf fees and approves foregone levy; Juniper Muir subdivision hearing continued

The McCall City Council on an evening session voted to adopt the fiscal year 2026 budget appropriation of $42,244,085, approved an increase in the city’s golf-course fee schedule and adopted a resolution to recover $80,424 of foregone property tax revenue for maintenance and operations.

The budget adoption, passed by roll call vote, follows months of public discussion and staff briefings about aligning tax and fee revenues with expected expenditures and capital projects. City staff also presented a proposal to raise regular golf fees about 3% and increase tournament fees more steeply to reflect demand. Council opened, heard and closed four public hearings; it adopted two resolutions and an ordinance and continued a preliminary plat hearing for the Juniper Muir subdivision to a date certain for additional follow-up.

City manager Forrest, in a transmittal included with the budget materials, said the budget was prepared conservatively and balanced maintenance-and-operations with anticipated tax and fee increases. The transmittal notes capital improvement plan projects totaling about $19.5 million — largely grant-funded or to be repaid through enterprise fees — and a proposed 4% general salary increase for employees. "We took a conservative eye," Forrest said in describing the budget and the goal of widening the gap to build reserves for capital needs.

Golf-course staff Phil Goodson presented the proposed fee schedule during public hearing No. 1 and explained the rationale for the increases, saying, "I propose that we increase our regular fee structure, the minimal 3%..." He told council the larger increases for tournaments reflect high demand and deep wait lists and would help the golf course enterprise fund build a reserve for maintenance and future capital work. After receiving…