Middleton committee amends budget to add staff, approves publishing Nov. 4 public hearing

The Middleton Finance & Personnel Committee on Oct. 7 directed staff to publish the public‑hearing notice for the city’s proposed 2026 budget and approved an amendment to the general fund operating matrix adding several personnel items offset by newly identified revenue.

Staff reported a larger‑than‑expected state transportation aid payment for 2026 of $1,660,036, an increase of roughly $112,623 over the amount in the proposed budget. Committee members said that additional revenue, together with a proposed recycling fee, could be used to add positions the city has requested.

The amendment the committee approved adds the following items to the proposed general fund (to be included in the published hearing materials): one full‑time police training officer, two part‑time community service officers, an expanded recreation outreach/sponsorship staff position, a conservancy technician, and $2,000 for committee/commission recognition or training. A member moved to amend the operating matrix to reflect the added revenue sources (state road aid and a recycling fee) and the expenditure items; the motion was seconded and adopted by voice vote.

Committee debate focused on priorities and tradeoffs: some members urged a conservative, “maintenance”‑first budget that limits new recurring staff, while others argued for restoring conservancy and recreation staffing and for funding library capital needs such as a sorter. Staff said the stormwater utility positions requested in the packet were significant and recommended evaluating those roles as part of an upcoming organizational study and updated rate study before committing to permanent hires.

Casey summarized the Baker Tilly compensation study and staff’s preferred implementation (labeled option 3): a Jan. 1 move for eligible employees to at least the minimum of their assigned pay grade or a 2.5% floor, and a July 1 staged adjustment tied to years in position (capped at six years). Staff estimated the partial‑year cost for the preferred option at about $154,000 total, with a general‑fund share of roughly $114,000; implementing a midyear start in 2026 would roughly double the full‑year impact in 2027.

On procedure, staff reminded the committee that state statute requires publication of a budget hearing notice at least 15 days before the hearing, so the committee needed to direct staff to publish that notice by the end of the meeting to meet deadlines. The committee voted to publish the public‑hearing notice for Nov. 4 based on the proposed budget as amended.

Next steps: staff will publish the hearing notice, circulate final slides and packet updates to council and the public, and return to the Finance & Personnel Committee on Oct. 21 for further deliberation.