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Lamar council reviews FY2026–27 proposed budget, schedules public hearing and debates art-center aid and ambulances
Summary
Council reviewed a proposed FY2026–27 budget showing $89,253,540 in revenues and $90,487,737 in expenditures (Floyd Valley Healthcare budget of $78,500,000 included), set a public hearing for April 21, 2026, and discussed whether to fund an art-center request and whether to purchase one or two ambulances to achieve long-term savings.
City administration presented the proposed fiscal-year 2026–27 budget at the April 7, 2026 council meeting and recommended the council publish the budget and set a public hearing for April 21, 2026.
The administration restated that the proposed levy rate is 11.17534. The transcript records total proposed revenues of $89,253,540 and total proposed expenditures of $90,487,737; the record also indicates a Floyd Valley Healthcare budget figure of $78,500,000 is included in those totals.
Council members discussed several line items. One discussion concerned delaying a south-sanitary/campground expenditure (a spoken approximate amount of "300" in the record); several members said they were comfortable deferring that item in a tight budget year. Council also discussed an added fire/rescue position that is currently included in the draft budget; members noted the expense is in the budget but ultimately up to council to retain or remove.
The council debated a $60,000 funding request from the local art center. Some council members expressed concern about the amount and the precedent of annual funding; others argued the center provides valuable community services. One member proposed a smaller emergency award or a $10,000 contract similar to an existing museum contract; another member suggested using hotel/motel funds for events that bring out-of-area visitors. No final funding decision for the art center was recorded at this meeting.
Council also discussed ambulances: staff described potential cost savings from ordering two ambulances now rather than one now and one later, noting a single ambulance price was stated in the record as approximately $400,000 and that buying two now could require roughly an additional $75,000 compared with a future single purchase. Staff emphasized trade-in and mileage strategies to stagger replacements and reduce lifecycle costs. No formal purchase motion or contract award was recorded at this meeting.
The administration recommended publication and a public hearing for the proposed budget; the council set the hearing for April 21, 2026 to receive further public comment and consider adoption.
