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West Branch council adopts FY2026 budget; one councilmember objects to increases
Summary
The West Branch City Council approved the city’s fiscal 2026 budget, citing higher utility and project costs; Finance Officer Heidi Van Auken detailed spending shifts and the resolution passed 4–1 with Councilmember Jodee Stoolman opposed.
The West Branch City Council adopted the city’s final fiscal year 2026 budget on April 21, approving Resolution 2025-42 after a public hearing.
Finance Officer Heidi Van Auken summarized differences between the FY25 and FY26 budgets, attributing changes to inflation, increased utility expenses, higher fire department salaries, augmented building-inspection costs, planned special projects including a new comprehensive plan, the use of low-to-moderate-income (LMI) funds, municipal-election costs in November, resurfacing in the municipal cemetery and increased TIF rebate payments. City Administrator Adam Kofoed earlier provided a general spending breakdown, saying roughly 30% of budgeted expenditures are for utilities (water, sewer, storm water), 21% for capital projects, 14% for public works and 14% for public safety, with the balance covering debt service, salaries and benefits.
After the presentation, Councilmember Tom Dean moved to approve Resolution 2025-42 and Councilmember Colton Miller seconded. The motion passed 4–1 (AYES: Dean, Miller, Sexton, Horihan; NAY: Stoolman). The council thanked Van Auken for her work preparing the budget.
The council’s adoption begins the FY26 fiscal year on July 1, 2025; no funding line-item changes were presented at the meeting beyond those summarized by Van Auken.
