Albia council fails to adopt 2024–25 budget after split vote

Albia — The Albia City Council opened and closed a public hearing on the proposed 2024–25 fiscal year budget at its April 15 meeting and then considered a resolution to adopt that budget. The motion to adopt failed, according to the minutes.

Council members present were Trudy McDowell, Merle Regenold, Scott Kelly, Kathy Mobley, Don Benson and Chris Yarkosky. The minutes record Scott Kelly voting yes on the adoption motion while Kathy Mobley, Don Benson, Merle Regenold and Chris Yarkosky are listed as voting no; the record does not specify Trudy McDowell’s vote. No written or oral objections to the budget were recorded during the public hearing.

Why it matters: Adopting a municipal budget sets spending and tax decisions for the coming fiscal year; failure to adopt can require the council to either revisit the proposed budget, pass an interim measure or make further cuts before a future deadline.

Councilors discussed the need to find additional savings for future budgeting during the meeting. The minutes do not show a subsequent motion that immediately adopted an amended budget; the council moved on to other agenda items after the failed adoption vote.

Next steps: Council members did not schedule a specific follow-up in the minutes; the budget will need further Council consideration before the start of the fiscal year. The minutes note the matter was debated during the regular meeting and that financial claims and revenues for January–March were reviewed separately.

Source: Albia City Council minutes, April 15, 2024; meeting minutes signed by City Clerk Linda Heller.