Fountain Council adopts 2026 budget ordinance with added LED sign and lobbyist materials

Fountain City Council unanimously approved the second reading of the 2026 appropriations ordinance at its Nov. 18 meeting, adding $15,000 for an electronic reader board and $200 for lobbyist outreach materials to the adopted budget.

The ordinance — described in the meeting record both as “ordinance 18 50” during presentation and later as “ordinance 18 15” when the council moved to adopt it — funds salaries, capital purchases and contingency items across multiple city funds for the 2026 fiscal year. A remote finance presenter said that, after adjustments requested at the Oct. 28 first reading, total 2026 expenditures are “about $54,800,000” and that the city will use “about 1.4 almost 1,500,000” of reserves to balance the year.

The presentation listed revisions from first reading that the council requested: a 2.5% merit increase for most city staff (with a 4.5% market adjustment for electric line operations), addition of a mobile fleet service truck, police mobile data terminals, an electronic message board for streets, replacement cemetery fence, contingency for emergency facility repairs and the inclusion of MyTown AI software. The finance presenter also said the Water Fund is projected to have revenues above expenditures by about $2,000,000 and the Electric Fund by about $2,700,000 after the adjustments.

Councilmembers discussed replacing the three-sided kiosk outside City Hall with an LED reader board. Staff estimated the board would cost between $15,000 and $20,000; the council directed staff to include $15,000 in the budget and requested renderings and firm cost estimates before installation. Council also asked for $200 to produce informational flyers for the city’s lobbyist to use during state-legislative outreach.

Councilmember Rick moved to adopt the ordinance with the two additional line items, Councilmember Estes seconded, and the motion carried on a 5–0 vote.

The ordinance vote concluded the budget items on the council agenda. The record contains two different ordinance numbers for the same action; the council’s motion and vote used “ordinance 18 15,” while the presentation referenced “ordinance 18 50.” The city clerk or finance office should be consulted for the definitive ordinance number and the official adopted ordinance text.

What’s next: Staff will return to council with sign renderings and firm pricing if council proceeds with the LED board; the adopted budget takes effect Jan. 1, 2026, per the ordinance presentation.