The Missoula City Council on Dec. 1 unanimously approved a resolution adopting first-quarter fiscal‑year 2026 budget amendments after a brief staff presentation and a public hearing with no speakers.

Finance Director Lee Griffin told the council the quarter‑one package adjusts appropriations to reflect new revenues, carry‑forwards and timing changes. Griffin said the amendments increase total city revenues by $2,035,515 and raise budgeted appropriations by $2,913,479; an exhibit attached to the agenda enumerates the specific line‑item adjustments and transfers.

Why it matters: The amendments authorize the city to spend newly available funds and to move prior‑year obligations forward into FY2026; council members described the vote as a transparency exercise to align appropriations with actual revenues, carryforwards and project timing.

Votes and formal actions at a glance
- FY2026 quarter‑one budget amendments (resolution): motion made by President Cheryl; roll‑call vote passed unanimously.
- Consent agenda: included ratification of accounts payable checks dated Nov. 25, 2025 (read in the meeting as $2,804,986.60), a memorandum of agreement with Arts Missoula, a street‑maintenance agreement with the Montana Department of Transportation for FY2026–27, reappointment of Debbie Johnston to the health board (term 01/01/2026–12/31/2028), a city surplus property declaration for the fire department, a Brownfields abatement agreement read back in the transcript with an atypical large figure ($1,000,009,951,787 as stated), the Missoula local government building special district FY2026 budget, and a 12/08/2025 public hearing for a tavern/casino conditional‑use request at 2315 Clark Fork Lane; the consent agenda passed by voice vote unanimously.
- Historic Preservation Commission reappointments: Councilor (speaker 5) moved to reappoint Paul Felicetti, Kathy Berkenhauser and Crystal Herzog (terms 01/01/2026–12/31/2028); roll‑call vote 9 in favor, 1 opposed; motion passed.
- Promotion to regular member: Councilor Nugent moved to promote Eden Streckle from alternate to regular member (term 01/01/2026–12/31/2028); roll‑call vote 9 in favor, 1 opposed; motion passed.

Details and context
Finance Director Lee Griffin said the packet includes 11 separate amendment items plus transfers and that the council has statutory authority under Montana Code Annotated to amend the budget during the fiscal year so long as a public hearing is held and funding sources are disclosed. No members of the public spoke during the budget hearing.

The consent agenda combined routine administrative and contract matters the city said had been vetted in committee; councilors were given the opportunity to separate any item but none did so. The transcript records the accounts‑payable total and other consent items as read aloud during the meeting.

The historic‑preservation appointments were taken as two separate motions and carried with 9‑to‑1 tallies in each case after brief council comments; one council member said they had a constituent concern but did not block the confirmations.

What’s next
The FY2026 amendments become part of the city’s adopted appropriations for the fiscal year; items on the consent agenda with required future steps (for example, the 12/08/2025 public hearing for the tavern/casino conditional‑use request) will follow the normal committee and public‑hearing process.

Authorities referenced in the meeting include Montana Code Annotated (statutory authority to amend budgets) and the agenda exhibits attached to the council packet. The vote records and the agenda exhibit provide the official provenance for the actions reported.