City manager resumes budget hearings; council reviews capital projects and transfer-station line items

City Manager Aaron Herbig resumed Belfast’s 2024–25 budget hearings after the council returned from executive session and provided councilors with an updated set of budget documents, including a colorful five-year capital sheet and a condensed budget packet.

Herbig reviewed previously approved capital projects and the three spending options presented to the council (bronze, silver and gold). He said the version in the green column reflected what the council had already approved, totaling approximately $1,400,009.90 in capital investment for the year. Herbig walked council through the condensed budget pages and drew attention to Department 440, the Recycling Transfer Station, and an item flagged for revisiting.

Staff and council clarified that the questioned increase related to oil and filter servicing costs for the transfer-station tractor and a forklift. The finance director reported quotes for the tractor oil and filter and for the forklift totaling about $1,000 for the year; after updating the line, staff recorded the revised figure for the transfer-station entry as $2,005.80, which the council accepted as the final number for that line.

Herbig said the budget had been submitted in preliminary form for advertising and that the council would hold a public hearing on the budget at its next meeting on July 16. He also thanked councilors and finance staff for extensive work during the multi-week budget deliberations. A council member offered personal thanks to colleagues for support during a recent family absence; the meeting concluded with customary thanks and scheduling confirmations.