Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bicknell reviews 2026 budget draft; funds available for equipment, playground match discussed
Summary
Council reviewed the 2026 tentative budget and cash balances (general fund ~$224,828; Class C roads ~$204,000; capital projects ~$214,000; water ~$234,000; irrigation ~$60,000), discussed buying a new lawnmower, pump rotation and a playground grant that would require a 20% local match.
Unidentified Speaker 4 (town staff) presented the town's cash balances and the draft 2026 budget, telling the council: "And we've got $224,828." He said combined town cash across accounts is close to $940,000, and reminded the council that the tentative budget would be presented in May with adoption expected in June.
Council members discussed capital needs. Unidentified Speaker 1 emphasized the need to plan for a replacement lawnmower (grass mower) and suggested saving in the capital projects fund or using the CIB wish list. "So if we need to buy a lawnmower, I would suggest that we take it out of our capital projects fund and buy a lawnmower," Unidentified Speaker 4 said.
The council also reviewed water infrastructure spending: a new pump was purchased and the plan is to bring the old pump home for rebuilding so the town maintains a two-pump rotation to avoid outages. Unidentified Speaker 7 explained that rotating pumps means rebuilding one every other year to keep a spare on the shelf.
On parks, Unidentified Speaker 6 said the town could apply for a playground grant with a maximum award of $250,000 but that the grant requires a 20% local match. Council members discussed using capital projects funds (about $214,000) toward the match and budgeting for the remainder.
Carrie reported the town was awarded a greenhouse funded by CDBG; council members discussed renting greenhouse space to local users. The council asked members to suggest any budget changes before the tentative budget is finalized for May.
