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Sunset Beach council reviews draft FY25‑26 budget, prioritizes equipment, staffing and reserves
Summary
At a budget workshop, Sunset Beach council reviewed department requests including $250,000 for a beach loader, $159,000 for a backhoe, engineering placeholders and staffing additions; staff included a $150,000 capital reserve for a fire truck and proposed the STEP pay/training program to improve recruitment.
Sunset Beach councilors met in a budget workshop to review the draft FY25‑26 spending plan, hear department requests and give staff direction ahead of the formal budget hearing in May. Staff presented capital requests, personnel changes and proposed pay adjustments while councilors asked for clarifications on maintenance, funding sources and election‑year compensation.
The streets and public‑works section of the draft budget retains two capital requests staff described as critical: "the 250,000 for the load impact for the beach trash," and $159,000 for a new backhoe, Miss Angland said while reviewing the streets budget. Staff said the backhoe comes with a one‑year warranty and that preventative maintenance options for the loader range in cost from about $1,700 to $5,200 annually depending on service frequency.
On personnel, staff explained the draft includes two additional full‑time facilities/maintenance positions and two part‑time custodial roles to ensure daily coverage during the summer and quicker response times than prior contracted cleaning services. "It's less expensive for us to hire the people, keep them, keep everything going," a staff presenter said while explaining the change.
Council also reviewed stormwater planning and engineering placeholders. Staff told council that several stormwater projects are currently being engineered and that an estimated $400,000 could be included as a budget amendment for upcoming stormwater work; those projects are part of the town’s previously adopted 10‑year, $5 million infrastructure plan.
The budget keeps a capital reserve deposit of $150,000 earmarked for apparatus such as a replacement fire truck, and staff emphasized the town’s strong fund balance. Council discussed election‑year compensation for elected members and asked staff to budget conservatively — one suggestion was to budget six months of council pay so the next council can decide whether to accept compensation.
No formal final adoption occurred at the workshop; members signaled consensus to bring the draft to a public hearing in May. The council adjourned the workshop to closed session after confirming the draft will be presented for formal consideration at the advertised hearing.
