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Kodiak Island Borough Assembly reviews FY2027 budget for key departments
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Summary
At an April 16 special work session, the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly reviewed selected FY2027 general and special-revenue fund budgets, including engineering and facilities, community development, building-and-grounds and school projects; no formal votes were taken. Staff flagged a proposed projects-office position, an ADA entryway project and a planned $7.37 million use of a land-sales fund balance.
The Kodiak Island Borough Assembly met in a special work session on April 16 to review portions of the proposed FY2027 budget for select general and special-revenue funds. Borough Manager Williams led the financial briefing; department directors and staff answered questions from assembly members.
The budget review front-loaded changes to the engineering and facilities fund. "I'm Amy, and I will be your engineering and facilities director tonight," said Amy, who told the assembly the salaries line looks low because the engineering and facilities director position has been vacant for about eight months and an environmental specialist post is also unfilled. She said the borough is considering adding a projects-office position to help with construction management for upcoming hospital projects and expects that investment to save money in the long run. "We haven't been paying an engineering and facilities director for about 8 months," she said, explaining the missing salary in the current-year actuals.
Director Chris French walked members through the community development budget, reporting the department's proposed 2027 budget is roughly $11,976 less than 2026 after reducing travel and training and shifting to more online course delivery. French said a previously vacant position was filled on April 1 and that planning work tied to a comprehensive plan and in-state trainings should limit out-of-state travel costs.
Other general-fund items discussed included the borough's contract with the City of Kodiak for building-official services (contract FY25-03 through June 30, 2029), an economic-development line limited to $600 in Chamber dues, and Parks & Recreation line items that carry a $150,000 2026 allocation for Harlequin Park that will need to be placed in a formal project via budget amendment to remain reserved.
On special-revenue funds, staff described Fund 210 (land sales/resource management) and explained revenue drivers such as cell-tower leases, gravel-sales royalties and driveway permits. Manager Williams flagged that a long-term land-sale contract is scheduled to finish this year, reducing land-sale receipts next year, and said the packet lists a planned use of fund balance of $7,373,654 to cover identified expenses.
The Assembly also examined the Building and Grounds fund (02/20), where rent and interfund charges are the main revenue sources. Staff explained the borough charges departments rent internally to allocate building costs (utilities, maintenance and trash) and clarified the school district pays rent only for noneducational spaces. The borough plans a capital project to make the main entry ADA-compliant — staff estimated the capital-projects line at about $147,000 — and described a shift to an electric boiler that raises electricity line items while reducing diesel use. Assembly members asked about potential electricity cost impacts given recent utility rate changes and new local loads; staff said they will monitor usage and, if necessary, request budget amendments.
Assembly members raised several follow-up requests: clarification on park continuing-education allocations, an explanation and breakdown of animal-control expenditures tied to the City of Kodiak contract (2027 ask $152,200), and line-item details for a $5,000 printing/binding charge in 2026. Staff committed to compiling answers into a follow-up email and bringing recommended adjustments to the next budget workshop and to Level 2 budget updates.
The meeting did not include formal votes on any budget items; staff emphasized that some amounts in the packet reflect prior-year carryover or placeholders that will be adjusted in subsequent budget rounds or through amendments. The assembly is scheduled to revisit the budget and Level 2 adjustments at its next meeting.
