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Lennox council adopts year-end budget changes, fees and wages; contingency transfer approved
Summary
The council approved Ordinance 664 (first reading) to make supplemental appropriations, updated the 2026 fines-and-fees schedule, posted 2026 wages and salaries, and approved a contingency transfer to cover recreation administration costs.
At its Dec. 22 meeting, the Lennox City Council approved several year-end financial and administrative items meant to align spending authority and user fees with actual costs.
Ordinance 664 (first reading) was introduced and approved to make supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2025 that reflect revenue and expenditure adjustments across multiple funds. Staff cautioned about pressure on the second-penny fund if sales-tax revenue does not grow to fund planned 2026 projects.
Council adopted Resolution 2025-12-22-01, updating the city's fines-and-fees schedule for 2026. Changes include adding an annual drainage fee (collected via property taxes), an annual street-maintenance fee, a reduction in the water-and-sewer surcharge estimated to save the average user about $2.50 per month, new oversized-vehicle parking fines, and adjustments to recreation program pricing. Christie, the recreation staff member, explained program-specific changes such as a 5% increase for pool season passes and swim lessons, uniform-related adjustments to youth baseball/softball fees, and a $60 tournament-team fee intended to help cover tournament expenses.
Resolution 2025-12-22-02, posting wages and salaries for 2026, was approved; staff said the proposal is based on a Midwest rolling CPI adjustment (2.8%) and performance-evaluation-based increases contained in city personnel policy, with market adjustments recommended for the library director and police chief. The council also approved Resolution 2025-12-22-03 to transfer contingency funds (the city budgets at least $50,000 annually) to cover recreation administration needs, with that movement reflected in the supplemental budget.
The consent agenda, which included four garbage-hauler license renewals, a library grant for furniture and circulation-desk work, and the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society agreement renewal, was approved by roll call votes. The council recorded affirmative votes from Welch, Sweer, Doherty, Teasey, Peterson and Drill.
