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Palo council reviews FY27 budget, considers tax levy, new staff and park priorities
Summary
At its Feb. 17 budget workshop, the Palo City Council reviewed the proposed FY27 budget, debated a possible new tax amount and whether to levy for employee benefits, discussed adding a building inspector and zoning position, considered a vehicle purchase estimate and prioritized park projects; no final levy or hire decisions were recorded.
The Palo City Council met in the Council Chambers of the Palo Community Center on Feb. 17, 2026, to review the proposed fiscal 2027 budget and related priorities. Mayor Busch called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
Council members reviewed several elements of the draft FY27 budget, with the most substantive discussion centered on a proposed new tax amount and whether to levy separately to cover employee benefits. The record shows the council debated those options but did not record a final decision or specific levy amount.
The council also discussed capital and personnel items included in the draft budget. Council members considered budget estimates for a potential vehicle purchase; the minutes note estimates were discussed but do not specify model or cost. Members also discussed establishing a building inspector position and a separate zoning position as possible additions to the staffing plan; whether those positions would be full-time, the timing of hires, and the source of funding were not specified in the workshop minutes.
City Engineer Michelle Cheever and Public Works staff joined the discussion of park projects and a park vision plan. Council members weighed which park projects to prioritize in the FY27 draft and set a budget amount for park work in the plan; the minutes do not record the exact dollar figure selected.
Mayor Busch opened the meeting for audience comments at 5:32 p.m.; no members of the public spoke and comments were closed the same minute. Procedural business included a motion by Council member Van Kerckhove, seconded by Council member Darren Stoltenberg, to approve the meeting agenda, which passed unanimously 5-0. There were no New or Old Business items recorded.
A motion by Council member Doug Hanover, seconded by Council member Jen Welton, to adjourn passed 5-0; the meeting ended at 6:20 p.m. The council noted there will be one additional budget workshop before a formal public hearing and final budget adoption.
Votes at a glance: A motion to approve the agenda (moved by Council member Van Kerckhove; seconded by Council member Darren Stoltenberg) passed 5-0. A motion to adjourn (moved by Council member Doug Hanover; seconded by Council member Jen Welton) passed 5-0.
The next procedural step recorded in the minutes is another budget workshop prior to the council’s public hearing and final vote on the FY27 budget.
