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Lake City council asks staff to include 4% raises in FY2026 draft as insurance costs tick up
Summary
Council directed City Administrator Jacob Matthews to prepare an initial FY2026 budget that includes a 4% raise after hearing a Mid‑Iowa presentation that insurance premiums rose about 3% and review of the proposed snow ordinance.
The Lake City Council on Jan. 20 directed City Administrator Jacob Matthews to include a 4% wage increase in the initial draft of the FY2026 budget.
The instruction came after the council reviewed wage projections for the coming fiscal year; no formal adoption of a wage schedule occurred—council asked staff to show the impact of a 4% raise in the first budget draft. Jacob Matthews will present the draft budget at a future meeting for further review and possible action.
Earlier in the meeting Renee Stauter of Mid‑Iowa told the council the city’s property insurance premium rose roughly 3% this year and that Lake City maintains a $3 million liability policy in place since 1998. Councilmembers also reviewed a proposed snow ordinance and provided feedback to staff; the ordinance was not voted on at the Jan. 20 meeting.
The council’s direction to include a 4% increase sets an initial expectation for wage costs in the budget process; final wage decisions will require formal budget adoption and any required public notice or hearings.
