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Libby council approves preliminary 2025–26 budget; residents, council press staff on contractor conduct and water outages
Summary
The Libby City Council approved the preliminary 2025–26 budget, with staff noting increases for wages and utilities; council members raised multiple resident complaints about contractor work, early starts in residential areas and a long unnotified water outage.
The Libby City Council voted to approve the preliminary 2025–26 budget and discussed a range of municipal matters, including concerns from residents about local contractor practices and a lengthy unannounced water outage.
Council approved the preliminary budget after a presentation by budget staff who said the largest changes were modest increases in utilities, fuel and wages (wage updates pending a collective‑bargaining agreement). "The biggest differences this year were electric, phone and gas prices and wages," staff member Leanne told the council, noting that most line items were carried over from last year.
Council questioned a listed 48% increase in cemetery service wages; Leanne explained this was not a new permanent wage increase but an item added to the salary matrix to allow hiring two seasonal workers or an additional helper for the streets department during summer months. "That one actually was not an increase," Leanne said; she said the position had been on the salary matrix but was not clearly shown in last year’s budget paperwork.
The council approved the preliminary budget by motion; the mayor said the preliminary budget will be advertised for public inspection and may be changed up to final adoption. Staff also warned councilors that a forthcoming resolution will propose changing levy calculations from mills to dollar amounts to align with recent state tax law changes.
On procurement and staffing matters, council discussed a request for qualifications (RFQ) for grant‑writing services. Council directed staff to post the RFQ and to place the item as an action on the August 18 agenda after correcting dates in the solicitation schedule.
During council comments, members raised multiple resident complaints about a local Cedar Street contractor: starting work early in residential areas contrary to contract terms, failing to provide public notice when streets or access were blocked, and repeatedly hauling gravel across city streets without proper protections. Council asked staff, including the city engineer, to follow up with the contractor about contract terms and enforcement. Several council members stressed the need for better communication with residents when planned water work will affect service. One councilor said some residents experienced a 15‑hour unannounced outage.
The meeting also handled routine items: approval of claims and business licenses for Best Buds Pizzeria, Sparkle and Shine (Libby), and Empower Physical Therapy PLLC. A public comment speaker criticized EPA and city settlement decisions (see separate EPA summary).
The mayor closed the meeting after a motion to adjourn carried.
