Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Preview topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Oakley previews FY2026 amended budget and seeks council direction on CIP priorities
Summary
City staff reviewed FY2026 revenues and introduced priorities for the FY2027 budget, highlighting a healthy water fund, a breakeven sewer fund, a $3.2M USDA loan, and the need to phase costly CIP items (estimated up to $7M) into next year's planning.
City staff presented a high-level preview of the FY2026 amended budget and sought council direction for FY2027 priorities at the May 27 meeting. The presentation covered revenue sources, reserves, and placeholder options for capital work.
Staff reported taxes (property and sales) and utility billings as primary revenue sources. The water fund is in relatively strong condition after completion of the cattail well and the USDA construction loan closeout; staff reported a monthly USDA payment on the loan. The sewer fund was presented as roughly breakeven in FY2026 but staff flagged higher repair and maintenance expenditures related to the treatment plant.
Staff asked council for guidance on placeholder budget amounts for capital items identified in the AQUA study (water mains, PRV replacements, booster station work) and for the rodeo complex expansion. Council discussed bonding vs. phasing for the water CIP and considered partial restaurant-tax awards for rodeo work; staff said restaurant-tax and grant awards timing (county allocation) will be clearer the following week.
Council and staff also discussed equipment decisions (leasing vs. buying a backhoe; evaluating repair vs. replacement for a water truck) and modest city-facility improvements (reconfiguring and painting the council chamber, adding a mounted TV). Staff requested directions to include placeholder numbers in the FY2027 draft budget and to meet in early June to finalize figures before adoption later in the month.
No formal budget adoption occurred at the meeting; staff will return with a prepared draft budget, refined project prioritization, and specific cost estimates for council review.
