Councilors voted Dec. 22 to implement a hiring freeze on all full‑time, nonessential city positions as part of a package of short‑term steps to balance the draft 2026 budget.

The motion, moved by Councilor Bach Schneider and supported for discussion by Councilor Motley, passed by voice vote. Councilors asked staff to rely on the essential/nonessential classification used during the COVID period to apply the freeze. The action was presented as a temporary, immediate tool to limit personnel costs while staff returns to council with a revised set of levy scenarios and recommended cuts.

Councilors discussed other candidate adjustments in the same session — delaying a planned Motorola radio purchase for public safety (about $110,000), deferring certain street‑lighting fixture purchases (about $100,000) and trimming marketing and vacant positions at the event center — and compiled a checklist staff will use to prepare final numbers for the levy vote.

Why it matters: Personnel costs are a major portion of city budgets. A hiring freeze can slow growth in expenditures quickly but can also affect service delivery if work volume rises or planned replacements are needed.

Next steps: Staff will prepare an updated budget showing the hiring‑freeze impact and other candidate reductions for the council at the levy‑setting meeting scheduled the next day.