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Jasper City Council approves 2026 budget, asks staff to seek insurance quotes and review operations
Summary
On Dec. 3, 2025 the Jasper City Council unanimously approved the 2026 budget after edits and discussions about reserves, insurance costs and outsourcing; Council moved to solicit insurance quotes and consider administrative outsourcing and committee oversight.
The Jasper City Council approved the 2026 budget at a Dec. 3 budget meeting, passing the motion on a unanimous voice vote after deliberations about reserves, insurance costs and potential outsourcing for some services. Councilmember Stacie Smith moved to approve the budget; Councilmember Zachary Kounkel seconded the motion and "all ayes" carried.
Clerk-Treasurer Renae Thode said edits continued through the day and that several items were shifted to capital accounts, including a cabinet and roof repair. She said she and a consultant (Les) were able to reduce figures "quite a bit" and cited a working figure of 6.62%; the minutes do not specify exactly which rate or levy that percentage represents. Councilmembers discussed reserve reporting and whether some costs (for example, the splashpad or future building insurance) should be managed long-term or offset by property sales.
Council and staff also discussed employee compensation and benefits. Several councilmembers noted raises earlier in the year and said that changes to insurance should be balanced with competitive wages so the city does not lose staff; staff warned that cutting benefits could prompt multiple vacancies. The council asked staff to solicit quotes from other insurance agents (including local agencies mentioned during discussion) and to invite agents to present options at a future meeting.
The meeting touched on operations and outsourcing: one external quote for payroll services of $275 was mentioned; councilmembers requested regular vendor-year-to-date reports and recommended that budget committees meet earlier in the year to monitor spending. Clerk-Treasurer Thode pointed to example receipts and disbursements in the draft (noting $681 in receipts and $688 in disbursements on an item shown) and encouraged quarterly vendor reports.
With the budget motion approved, the council listed upcoming meetings (TNT meeting Dec. 9, council meeting Dec. 9) and adjourned the budget meeting at 7:40 p.m.
