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Lancaster council approves first reading of FY2025–26 budget adjustments for hospitality tax, repairs and meter replacement
Summary
On Sept. 25, 2025, the Lancaster City Council approved the first reading of Ordinance 025-16, which reallocates hospitality‑tax funds for a damaged welcome sign, moves funds for downtown holiday displays, adds repairs funding for the Springs House, corrects a wastewater labor line, and increases meter‑replacement budget estimates.
Lancaster — The Lancaster City Council approved the first reading of Ordinance 025-16 on Sept. 25, a package of targeted adjustments to the city’s FY2025–26 operating budget.
Finance presenter Absher detailed the changes. He said the hospitality tax revenue and an insurance payment would cover a $15,120 replacement for a damaged welcome sign removed from Highway 200. Absher said the city had budgeted $85,000 for seasonal decorations along the bypass; a request from Lisa Roddy prompted moving $8,000 from a CIP line into materials and supplies to supplement downtown Christmas displays.
Absher also proposed $106,000 in repairs and maintenance for the Springs House—primarily to replace columns—funded from carryover. He said an error in the wastewater treatment plant’s labor calculations required adding $75,000 to that line to avoid an overrun.
On capital projects, Absher described increasing the meter‑replacement budget from its prior estimate and adding lease revenue assumptions; he said the estimate will be refined at upcoming finance committee meetings. ‘‘I increased that budget $2,000,000 to the 3.3 that was there and added $2,000,000 more in the lease process,’’ he said, describing adjustments to anticipated meter‑replacement spending and lease proceeds.
Councilwoman Miller moved approval; Councilwoman Marsh seconded. The ordinance passed first reading on a roll‑call vote recorded as yes by the members polled at the meeting.
Absher told the council he discovered a formatting issue in the completed budget document shortly before the meeting and would post a corrected version to the city website; he invited council feedback. He also said the finance staff intends to prepare the document for submission to the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) once formatting is corrected.
The ordinance passed first reading; council members did not take final adoption votes at this session.
