Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lancaster council adopts FY2025–26 operating budget, cites incoming business-license payment
Summary
Lancaster’s council approved Ordinance 25-04 on second reading to adopt the FY2025–26 operating budget and fee schedule, with staff saying a pending $2.1–$2.4 million business-license payment and investment income will move the general fund back into balance.
Lancaster’s City Council voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance 25-04 on second reading, approving the operating budget and the city’s fee schedule for fiscal year 2025–26.
Finance staff told the council that the city has already received $250,000 from an insurance-broker program and is expecting an additional $2.1 million to $2.4 million in business-license revenue in the coming days that will resolve the shortfall cited in the May report. “When we get that, it’ll take care of this loss you see here,” the finance director said during the meeting.
The council and staff described several modest changes to the budget since the prior presentation: the city increased projected revenue from short-term investments by moving portions of its unrestricted fund balance into a rotating set of investment funds; carryover estimates were raised slightly; and the solid-waste transfer-station concession line was increased by $12,000. Staff also inserted a conservative $50,000 placeholder to cover unexpected insulation work at the wastewater treatment plant after receiving updated project costs.
Council members asked questions about liquidity and timing; finance staff said the city structured investments to keep funds accessible while seeking higher, short-term returns. Staff noted that unrestricted cash on hand appeared down compared with last year primarily because of interfund transfers for capital projects, and that once the expected business-license payment is posted the general fund position should align with prior-year levels.
The ordinance passed on a roll-call vote with Council members Harris, Marsh and Miller and Mayor DeBeney voting yes.
The council did not change any service levels or staffing as part of the vote; staff said the revisions were intended to avoid midyear budget amendments and to reflect updated project estimates. The city’s next regular meeting is scheduled for July 8, when staff expect to return with corrected documentation on other agenda items.
