Star adopts $26.56M budget, approves annexation and multiple development agreements

The Star City Council voted Aug. 5 to adopt a $26,559,539 budget for fiscal year 2025–26, approve an annexation ordinance and sign amended development agreements, while also agreeing to reopen discussion on one subdivision condition.

Councilman Wheelock moved approval of Ordinance 420-2025 (annual appropriation ordinance) to fund city operations for Oct. 1, 2025–Sept. 30, 2026, which the council adopted by roll call. The council certified property-tax levies to Ada and Canyon counties as part of the ordinance; officials said only about 8.3% of the city's projected revenues come from property taxes, with the remainder coming from fees, impact fees and state revenue sharing.

Before adopting the appropriation ordinance, council used Idaho Code §50-902 to dispense with the three-reading requirement and introduce three ordinances by title only: Ordinance 422-2025 (Newberry annexation), Ordinance 420-2025 (budget appropriation) and Ordinance 421-2025 (mayor compensation). The council then approved Ordinance 422-2025 to annex approximately 10.96 acres owned by Jeremy and Sabrina Newberry (Ada County parcel R3626150220) into the City of Star as R‑1 with a development agreement.

Council also approved amended and restated development agreements for Hacienda Del Estrella (formerly the Grace Assisted Living facility) and the Lagado Subdivision (formerly Star River Ranch North). Staff said those agreements were returned for signature after technical adjustments and that each was read and approved by roll call.

During the budget presentation, staff and council described key revenue and expense items: projected reliable revenue (property tax, state revenue sharing), an anticipated $1.4 million increase in revenue sharing tied to population growth, franchise fees and an expected $1.7 million increase from building plan-review fees after bringing plan review services in-house. The council projected ACHD (Ada County Highway District) pass-through impact fees of $2.9 million and reported $7.9 million committed to a local state-highway proportionate-share fund generated from a $1,000 per-house assessment at final plat.

Major capital and expense items discussed included a $4.5 million River House event center (10,000 sq ft), additional park and pathway projects, public-safety costs (a $4.2 million law-enforcement contract) and plans to add two patrol deputies plus one school resource officer. Council and staff said some public-safety and asset-replacement costs are currently funded by mitigation and impact fees, though the mayor indicated he is working with state leaders on a long-term public-safety improvement district to shift growth costs to new development.

Councilman Nielsen asked to reconsider Condition No. 3 attached to the Milestone Ranch South subdivision approval because the condition was inserted after the public hearing closed; the council voted to accept the reconsideration request and place the item on a future public hearing agenda.

The council concluded the meeting with routine closing remarks and adjourned at 8:57 p.m.