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Council reviews budget amendment: police software subscription, wastewater insurance and garbage-fuel surcharges under scrutiny
Summary
Staff presented a proposed budget amendment showing a shift from accrual to cash accounting, a request to add the Lexipol police policy subscription, sharply higher insurance tied to the new wastewater plant and separate fuel surcharges from the town’s garbage contractor.
During the public hearing on the proposed 2026 budget amendment, Danette (S12) walked the council through fund-by-fund changes and explained the town’s shift from accrual to cash accounting for reporting purposes.
"We changed the reporting method from accrual to cash based reporting," Danette said when asked why a $150,000 restitution did not appear in an earlier year’s reported revenues. Danette also said staff will provide more detailed accounting information on that restitution and other newly added revenue line items.
In the police fund, staff said the marshal requested a subscription to Lexipol, a policy-management service; staff explained the contract is under review and the subscription would be about $2,000 annually if added. On insurance, staff said the town’s renewal reflected coverage for the new wastewater-treatment plant and increased the town policy limit from $2,000,000 to $7,000,000, driving higher premiums.
Council members pressed for clarity on several line items that were added or adjusted in the amendment. Staff committed to providing more detailed line-item explanations for the November amendment and to return with figures on the garbage contractor's separate fuel-adjustment invoices (averaging roughly $1.08–$1.20 per cart based on recent invoices). Staff said the town will put the fuel-adjustment figures on a future agenda so the council can decide how to handle the shortfall if the extra costs persist.
No final budget amendments were adopted at the July 7 meeting; staff said they expect to return with additional detail and recommended language for the November amendment if the town intends to spend certain newly recognized revenues in 2026.
