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Maquoketa committee hears FY27 draft showing roughly $100,369 General Fund shortfall; considers franchise-fee change
Summary
The Finance & Personnel Committee reviewed FY26 re-estimate and FY27 Draft 2, which project a General Fund deficit of about $100,369, and discussed options such as splitting wages with enterprise funds and redirecting 20% of franchise fees to capital improvements. Committee also approved starting replacement hiring in dispatch.
The Maquoketa Finance & Personnel Committee reviewed updates to the FY26 re-estimate and FY27 Draft 2 on Jan. 12, 2026, and was told the current plan projects a General Fund net loss of approximately $100,369.
Finance staff member Josh Boldt presented the revised figures, explaining that several staffing-cost allocations were adjusted — including splitting the Finance Clerk, City Manager and Deputy Clerk wages with the water and wastewater funds — and dispatch costs were updated to reflect an upcoming retirement in the dispatch center. Boldt said the city could also revise the franchise-fee distribution next year to allocate 20% of franchise revenues to capital improvement project (CIP) contributions.
Chairperson Josh Collister and committee members Mark Lyon and Caroline Ehlinger discussed options to reduce the projected shortfall. No formal budget approval occurred at this meeting; the presentation was an informational update and the committee asked staff to continue refining estimates.
Committee members also discussed personnel timing for dispatch. Boldt reported the FY27 estimated personnel cost for the dispatch agreement is $692,930. Collister said he favored beginning recruitment as early as March 2026 to ensure a smooth transition for a retiring dispatcher; Boldt and Chief Brendan Zeimet agreed to work on next steps.
The committee approved routine procedural motions at the start of the meeting — adopting the agenda and approving the Nov. 17, 2025 minutes — and adjourned at 6:12 p.m.
Next steps: staff will continue refining the FY27 draft, explore the proposed franchise-fee redistribution option, and return updated budget estimates to the committee for further review.
