Aberdeen council opens public hearings on 2026 budget and property tax levy; approves second readings
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Summary
Finance Director Katie Williamson reported federal shutdown impacts on EMS funding and presented adjustments to the 2026 preliminary budget; the council opened required public hearings and approved second readings for the property tax levy and the preliminary budget.
Finance Director Katie Williamson told the council on Oct. 29 that the meeting included the second reading of the preliminary 2026 budget and updates on federal impacts. "So far the only department that has direct impact from federal shutdown is the fire department," Williamson said, noting a decrease in EMS payments received mainly through Medicaid that affects ground emergency medical transportation funding. She said staff will continue to monitor the situation.
The council voted to open and later close a public hearing on the 2025 property tax levy for collection in 2026 (Bill 25-11). After public hearings, the council approved the second reading of the property tax levy ordinance (Bill 25-11) by voice vote.
During the second reading of the 2026 preliminary budget (Bill 25-12) councilors praised a conservative approach that preserved funding for animal control and parking enforcement. Williamson told the council the budget included two specific additions: about $48,000 to purchase life‑saving equipment for the fire department and the reinstatement of a provisional downtown cleanup worker previously eliminated from the 2025 staffing plan. "The adjustment that we made was $48,000 to the budget that we're proposing today," Williamson said.
Council also opened and approved a second reading for the 2025 supplemental budget ordinance (Bill 25-2); staff noted an added tax or charge related to purchase of a street sweeper of about $25,000 on top of an already budgeted approximately $325,000 for street work.
Motions to open hearings, accept second readings and adopt the ordinances were made, seconded and passed by voice vote; recorded proceedings show sustained unanimous "Aye" responses during several votes though individual roll-call votes with member-by-member tallies were not recorded in the transcript. Council also briefly discussed scheduling and outreach so the public would have an opportunity to review the budget and attend future meetings.
The meeting included an announcement that the council would enter closed session to discuss collective bargaining strategy with Hartman & Associates; officials said no action was anticipated following that closed session.
