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Goodview council previews 2026 budget; debate over police squad and new officer affects levy projection
Summary
City Administrator Dan Matejka presented proposed 2026 budget changes that put the estimated levy at roughly 8.5%; Draft #2 included $57,000 that raised a preliminary levy estimate to about 9.1%, while removing it would reduce the levy to about 5.4%. Councilmembers asked questions about a new police squad and a full-time officer; the council agreed to show half of the $57,000 in the next draft to test the effect.
City Administrator Dan Matejka reviewed a small set of changes to the proposed 2026 budgets at the City of Goodview special meeting Oct. 27, saying the estimated levy "now sits at roughly 8.5%."
Matejka told the council that Draft #2 included a $57,000 line item; with that amount the preliminary levy was about 9.1%, and if the $57,000 were removed the levy would fall to roughly 5.4%. He added the city’s Financial Planning Model projects a 10% increase in 2027, a projection councilmembers cited when discussing the near-term levy trajectory.
Councilmember Dick Ledebuhr questioned the need for another police squad vehicle and the addition of a full-time officer (planned to start July 1, 2026). Police Chief Lonnie Roloff said the squad purchase is part of his rotation of in/out squad vehicles and that a new full-time officer would replace part-time hours rather than add net staffing.
Matejka noted those figures and their impact on the levy. Councilmember Charlie Andring suggested, and there was consensus, that the next budget draft presented Nov. 24 show only half of the $57,000 line item to see how that change would affect the proposed levy percentage. The minutes do not record a formal vote on the budget or a final decision to adopt the levy; the council adjourned without taking final budget action.
The next public step on the budget is the council’s review of the revised draft scheduled for Nov. 24, 2025, where the trimmed line will appear for review.
