Council reviews preliminary 2025 budget, including reserves and multiple fund estimates

Deputy City Manager Jeff Balentine presented the Granite Falls preliminary 2025 budget at the Aug. 21 meeting, reviewing projected revenues and expenses across the General Fund and enterprise funds and outlining the 2025 budget calendar.

Balentine's presentation, delivered via PowerPoint slides noted in the record, covered the estimated General Fund revenues and expenses (including a view with and without ARPA funds), estimated fund reserves, Street Fund trends and the Street Fund revenue and expense projections. He also reviewed park impact fees, community/arts CIF funds, arterial and REET funding, and estimated Water, Sewer and Storm fund revenues and reserves. Debt load and Solid Waste CIF items were included on later slides.

Council did not take formal action on the budget at the meeting; the item was presented for review. The transcript does not record proposed tax-rate changes or adoption figures, nor does it include the full numeric tables from the slides. The presentation sets the calendar for subsequent budget workshops and hearings ahead of adoption.

City staff indicated earlier staff reports on the wastewater treatment plant upgrade and other capital projects that will affect later budget decisions. The transcript records a follow-up calendar and additional review steps rather than a final appropriation vote.