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Livingston manager unveils FY27 budget package with stormwater fee proposal, new parks staff and $1.3M in interfund transfers
Summary
City Manager Mr. Ger presented a balanced FY27 recommendation that funds the Gateway Wellness Center operations, adds one parks maintenance position, proposes a new stormwater funding mechanism (a proposed $7/month residential fee under the recommended ‘medium’ option), and advances several capital priorities including rail-crossing surface work and police vehicle storage.
City Manager Mr. Ger on June 16 presented his recommended fiscal year 2027 budget to the Livingston City Commission, calling it a collaborative product of department heads and staff and balanced on an operating basis. "It is my pleasure to present those recommendations," Mr. Ger said, noting the budget funds the opening of the Gateway Wellness Center (construction expected January 2027; public service expected in February) and initial operating expenses for that facility.
The recommended general fund shows $9.36 million of expenditures and, Mr. Ger said, operating revenues and expenditures are balanced: roughly $8.239 million in operating revenues to $8.19 million in operating expenditures. The manager said the forecast general fund balance at the end of FY27 would be about 27.1% of operations, above commonly cited guidance for municipal reserves.
Why it matters: The FY27 proposal contains several items the commission had listed as priorities, including a mechanism to fund long-standing drainage and flooding issues. Mr. Ger proposed establishing a stormwater fund and recommended a "medium" funding level that would generate an estimated initial program of roughly $365,000 and a residential charge around $7 per month. He said the money would pay for capital work and a full-time staff position within public works to perform proactive and restorative stormwater maintenance.
On public utilities, Mr. Ger proposed a 2.97% base rate increase for water (with tiered higher charges for larger users) and a 2.07% increase for sewer service. Staff projected typical monthly customer impacts ranging from roughly $0.50 to $1.60 for water and about $0.97 to $3.51 for sewer, depending on usage tiers. Solid-waste rates were proposed to remain unchanged for a third straight year.
Capital and department highlights: The manager recommended one additional parks maintenance employee to manage over 160 acres and to support projects called for in the parks master plan, including playground improvements, picnic shelters and design work for a veterans memorial. The budget includes funding for the Bennett Street railroad crossing surface improvements and accelerated surface work at the Fifth Street crossing in partnership with BNSF and the Montana Department of Transportation.
Public safety and facilities: The package recommends funding to buy patrol vehicles, and a $50,000 general-fund component to create a secure vehicle storage and small training/locker facility (staff said the total project cost is larger and will be funded across funds). The city expects to move some back-office or reserve apparatus to a public-works site to ease congestion around city hall.
Process and next steps: Mr. Ger said the presentation is a recommendation only; a resolution of intent to set the budget is scheduled for July 7 with final adoption to follow. Commissioners requested follow-up materials: sample household bill impacts that combine utility and property-tax effects, a clearer five-year capital schedule for major projects, a breakdown of ambulance versus fire funding, and more detail on how stormwater projects would be prioritized.
What’s next: Staff will return with those materials and the formal budget documents in July. The commission did not take action on FY27 at the June 16 meeting; Mr. Ger said a formal vote is planned during the meeting sequence that begins July 7.
