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Lamar schedules public hearing on 2026–27 budget; council hears ambulance replacement plan
Summary
The Lamar City Council voted to publish the proposed 2026–27 budget with a levy rate of 11.17534 and set a public hearing for April 21, 2026; the meeting also included a staff presentation on rotating and replacing the ambulance fleet to extend vehicle life.
The Lamar City Council voted to publish the proposed fiscal year 2026–27 budget and set a public hearing for April 21, 2026, at 12:00 p.m., with a proposed levy tax rate of 11.17534. A motion to publish and set the hearing was seconded and carried.
During the discussion period preceding the vote, the fire chief described a plan to replace one ambulance now and rotate equipment across a three-vehicle fleet to reduce wear on any single rig. “We could get a $500,000 vehicle for about 75 grand,” the chief said, explaining the department’s ability to retrofit donated or surplus vehicles and stagger mileage so no single ambulance accrues excessive use.
Council members and staff noted the replacement cost in the current budget contemplates only a single vehicle purchase and described a rotation strategy to extend service life; staff also said sales tax revenue could fund the $75,000 outlay within the next two years.
Joe (staff) explained the city’s budgeting approach: the administration prepares a line-item budget for internal planning and a separate certified lump-sum budget for the state that establishes the maximum levy. The council’s vote now publishes the proposed budget and begins the public hearing process required before final adoption.
The council did not take further action on ambulance procurement at the meeting; the budget hearing date is the next formal step for public input and potential adoption.
