Perry council adopts FY2027 budget, raises garbage charge and approves a package of project pay requests and easements

Perry City Council held its final public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget and then adopted the annual budget by unanimous roll call.

Officials read a levy figure during the hearing (recorded in the transcript as "17.91073 per 10,000 evaluation") and explained that a rise in taxable valuation was offset by a required 2% reduction in the consolidated general fund levy. Staff flagged higher landfill tipping fees as a key driver for recommended service-fee adjustments and proposed increasing the regular garbage service charge by $2 per month (from $19 to $21) to cover an approximately $95,000 increase in tipping fees.

After the hearing, council considered and approved several routine and project-related items that had been on the agenda:

- Final closeout pay request for CDBG contract 23-HSGU-004 (upper-story renovation at 1306 2nd Street), with staff noting the upper-story apartments are all rented and commercial space still needs renovation. - Temporary construction and permanent public-utility easements tied to the Sumis Avenue reconstruction project; staff said most easements have been secured and remaining properties are in process so the project can be bid this spring. - Multiple pay applications for downtown improvement phase 1 (TK Concrete, pay application No. 4) and for runway relocation phases (Manat, Inc., reduce retainage on pay applications), with roll-call approval. - A resolution ordering bids and setting a public hearing (May 18) for a 1,500-foot parallel taxiway extension at the municipal airport; staff reported updated construction estimates near $1.6–$1.7 million after adding drainage and erosion-control items and said discretionary grant timing will likely push construction to 2027.

Votes at a glance (as recorded in the meeting transcript): - Adopt FY2027 annual budget — motion passed by roll call (all members recorded as "yes"). - CDBG contract 23-HSGU-004 final pay — approved by roll call (all recorded "yes"). - Temporary construction easements and permanent utility easement for Sumis Avenue — approved by roll call (all recorded "yes"). - Pay application No. 4, downtown improvement phase 1 (TK Concrete) — approved by roll call (all recorded "yes"). - Pay applications for runway relocation phases and related retainage reductions (Manat, Inc.) — approved by roll call (all recorded "yes"). - Resolution ordering bids and public hearing for 1,500-foot parallel taxiway extension — approved by roll call (all recorded "yes").

What happens next: Staff will monitor grant timing and DOT processes, proceed with Sumis Avenue easement collection and bidding, and implement the adopted budget and the modest garbage fee increase. Council directed staff to continue to update the council about construction timetables and grant awards.

Note on figures: Some numeric values were read from the transcript as spoken; where the recorded numeric text appeared unclear in the transcript, the article reports the figure as presented in council remarks rather than substituting an external conversion or assumption.