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Riverton reviews proposed FY2027 budget; council holds community-grant allocation at $240,000
Summary
City staff presented a proposed fiscal year 2027 budget that increases capital investment — notably water and road projects — and proposes personnel cost adjustments. Council discussed community-service requests totaling $549,000 and signaled keeping contract awards at $240,000 for now while forming follow-up steps.
City staff presented the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget to the Riverton City Council at a May 12 work session, laying out fund-by-fund changes and priorities and asking council members for direction on community-service contract awards.
"This budget includes a Safe Routes to School project for the Willow Creek Elementary School," Mr. Butterfield, the staff presenter, told the council, and he highlighted other planned projects funded by grants and the optional 1% tax. He said capital accounted for most of the year-over-year increase and that staff aimed to protect reserves while funding major water and street investments.
Why it matters: Staff described large, one-time capital needs — including a planned $8 million water-main replacement — that drive the proposed budget increase. Council discussion focused on which community programs to prioritize given limited discretionary funds.
Key numbers and proposals - Proposed total: staff described the proposed budget as "just over $44,400,000." (Transcript contains an inconsistent larger figure in one passage; staff framed the working total in committee as approximately $44.4 million.) - Capital: capital improvements were said to represent about 56.6% of the proposed budget; $4,470,000 is shown in the optional 1% tax fund for local infrastructure projects. - Water fund: staff presented a water fund budget of $12,834,553 and said roughly $9.99 million in grants/loans plus $1 million from 1% funds would support major capital work. - Public safety: "There's $319,000 committed to law enforcement equipment upgrades," Mr. Butterfield said, listing Axon products (body cameras and related equipment), drones, dash cams and supporting software. - Compensation: staff proposed a 2% cost-of-living increase for nonexempt employees and 1% for exempt leadership, plus merit/step increases; beginning July 1, 2026, the city proposed picking up roughly $52,000 in increased retirement contribution costs so employees realize the merit/COLA adjustments. - Prisoner housing: the recommended FY27 line for housing prisoners was increased to $300,000 after staff reported year-to-date costs of about $340,000; Miss Harris said the daily county jail rate is $55 per day.
Community-service contracts and next steps Council reviewed nine applications requesting a combined $549,000. The council discussed numerous priorities — PAWS (animal shelter), Riverton Mercy House, recreation programming, Wind River Transportation Authority and others — and debated whether to increase available contract funding above the staff placeholder of $240,000.
Council members expressed strong advocacy for the animal shelter and recreation services while noting the difficulty of choosing among worthy requests. One council member said, "I'm always gonna be for PAWS," while another urged caution around spending given the city's limited discretionary cash.
After discussion, the council signaled it would retain $240,000 for community-service contract awards in the FY27 proposed budget and to continue prioritization work in follow-up meetings and by a possible committee. No formal award decisions were made in the work session; final allocations will be set when the council adopts the budget in a later session.
Process and timing Mr. Butterfield reminded the council that the work session is advisory and that the formal adoption of the budget — and any contract awards tied to it — occurs at a future regular meeting. Staff also noted the city is pursuing grant opportunities (including a potential COPS grant to offset officer positions) and will return with any award information and recommended amendments.
What to watch next - Final FY27 budget adoption at the council regular meeting (date pending). - Staff follow-up on community-service prioritization and any committee recommendations for PAWS and recreation. - Possible budget amendments if grant awards (including the COPS program) are received early in FY27.
The work session adjourned at 8:11 p.m.
