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Council adopts FY2026 budget amendment after questions about rising workers' compensation costs
Summary
The Cascade City Council adopted Resolution 33-26 amending the FY2026 budget, approving multiple bond and debt payments; a council member asked about a $10,000 workers' compensation discrepancy that staff attributed to a higher experience modifier affecting the fire/public safety budget.
The Cascade City Council on Tuesday adopted Resolution 33-26, approving a fiscal-year-2026 budget amendment that covers the period July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. The amendment includes scheduled principal and interest payments on several bonds and routine fiscal-year-end adjustments.
A council member asked about a roughly $10,000 variance in the workers' compensation line for public safety. Staff explained that the city's experience modifier for workers' compensation rose, increasing per-member costs and resulting in higher charges for the fire department. "Our experience mod for work comp went from 0.92 to 1.52," a staff member said, noting the change drove the increase.
The staff review of consent and claims noted these payments included: a UMB Bank 2017 bond principal payment of $135,000 with $2,025 interest; a 2019 bond for the pool with $125,000 principal and $19,200 interest; a UMB Bank 2024 bond for the library and Highway 136 South with a $100,000 principal payment and $23,960 interest; and an Iowa Finance Authority SRF sewer-plant payment with principal $415,000, interest $48,667.50 and service fees $6,952.50. A council member noted the 2017 bond payment was the city's final payment on that issue.
After discussion, Councilmember Delaney moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Hush seconded; the council approved the measure by roll call with all recorded votes in favor.
The budget amendment takes effect as a fiscal-year change for the period noted in the resolution; no additional budget revisions were announced at the meeting.
