Rawlins City Council adopts FY2026–27 budget after 6–1 vote

The Rawlins City Council adopted the fiscal year 2026–27 municipal budget at its June 16 meeting following a 6–1 vote.

Councilman Segel moved to approve the third and final reading and to waive further reading of the budget ordinance; the motion carried after online voting closed with six ayes and one nay, Councilmember Elliott cast the lone vote against the measure.

The council debated a proposal from Councilman Sealaff to reallocate $20,000 that had been earmarked for a fire-department remodel to fund greening and sprinkler repairs at the west end of town. Sealaff said the transfer would “clean that area up” and make entry points presentable to new businesses. City staff responded that existing budget line items and seasonal Parks & Recreation crews should cover many of the requested improvements without transferring funds; staff said a larger cemetery sprinkler project remained a separate line-item request.

City staff also described recent, limited adjustments between the second and third readings: a $1,250 increase to a nonprofit expenditure line and a combined $15,148 increase reflecting 3% wage adjustments for the city attorney, the municipal judge and the city manager. The manager said those changes reconciled packet figures and did not materially change the total appropriation.

Council members discussed the upcoming Independence Day fireworks (this year’s display cost roughly $22,000) and options for expanding the show in future years. Fire-department staff advised that doubling show length typically adds about $20,000 because many providers price fireworks at roughly $1,000 per minute and storage/logistics become more complex.

The ordinance adopting the FY2026–27 municipal budget is now approved and will proceed to implementation; the council provided direction to staff about prioritizing west-end beautification work through existing seasonal resources and budgeted irrigation-repair lines.