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Williston officials weigh deeper cuts as 2026 preliminary budget shows $2.2M gap
Summary
City staff told commissioners on Sept. 15 that the preliminary 2026 budget has narrowed to a $2.2 million deficit, with 25 FTEs trimmed and a $12.5 million Williston Square infrastructure plan still included; staff warned further capital cuts and operational changes in public safety may be needed to balance the budget.
City of Williston staff presented a preliminary 2026 budget to the Board of City Commissioners on Sept. 15 that officials said now shows an estimated $2.2 million shortfall and includes an aggressive $12.5 million infrastructure plan for Williston Square. A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for the commission’s regular meeting on Sept. 23, 2025.
Finance Director Hercules Cummings told commissioners the preliminary plan reduces 25 full‑time equivalent positions and adds one position for the Convention & Visitors Bureau. Cummings said the budget opened with about a $16 million deficit; revenues and underspending by departments have narrowed the gap but staff cautioned that midyear revenue shortfalls would force spending freezes, elimination of nonessential expenditures or denial of planned capital projects to reach a balanced budget.
Public safety departments are already cutting costs, staff said. The minutes record that the fire department trimmed most nonpersonnel areas while personnel costs rose because of salary and health‑insurance increases; the fire chief proposed options such as temporarily freezing the step pay plan. City staff announced an operational change effective Oct. 1: fire apparatus will no longer be dispatched routinely to non‑injury motor vehicle accidents unless requested by the police department, a step officials said could reduce call volumes and allow further budgetary reductions in 2027.
Commissioner Brad Bekkedahl asked staff to provide data on call generation and dispatch handling to evaluate whether fewer apparatus responses are feasible. City administration recommended budgeting salaries based on current available positions rather than historical averages and included a 3% across‑the‑board employee increase and a 3% step increase for public‑safety personnel in the proposed budget. Staff also proposed adjusting mayoral and commissioner pay to better align with comparable cities; Mayor Howard Klug requested Planning and Zoning Commission members’ meeting pay be increased to $100 per meeting.
Administration outlined a Human Resources‑led fleet management and procurement initiative, to begin in October 2025 and inform the 2027 budget cycle by identifying acquisition costs and any needed staffing. Staff also said landfill capital items, including cell reconstruction, are captured in the 10‑year capital plan and that the city is awaiting a Burns & McDonnell study that will present three scenarios for possible rate increases to be reflected in the revenue forecast.
The commission took no final budget votes at the special meeting. Commissioner Lucas Gjovig moved to adjourn; Commissioner James Bervig seconded and the board adjourned by unanimous voice vote.
