Molalla budget committee unanimously recommends FY2025–26 budget and certifies tax levies

The Molalla Budget Committee voted unanimously to recommend adoption of the city’s proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget and to certify property tax levies at a rate set for collection. A committee member moved to forward the budget to City Council for final approval; the motion carried by voice vote.

Budget officer Dan Huff opened the meeting by describing the budget as balanced and focused on core services — water, sewer, storm drainage, streets, police and parks — and called it a multiyear roadmap for the city. “Finally, and this is the most important part, is this budget is balanced,” Huff said during his transmittal remarks.

Finance Director Cindy Sharon walked committee members through the digital budget document, answered pre-submitted questions and explained several line items committee members had flagged. Sharon said the apparent 110% increase in stormwater system development charges reflected carryover funds held in anticipation of an upcoming stormwater project, not new recurring revenue. She also noted contingency increases for streets, sewer and water were deliberate reserves “so we can go to council and ask to spend it if we have a project that comes up.”

The packet included capital highlights across departments: seed money for a new library facility, a modular wastewater treatment plant under construction, and transportation and parks projects that rely in part on grant funding. Chief Chris Long reported the new police facility construction is on schedule; the committee’s urban renewal materials reserve $4,030,000 to support completion of that project if needed.

After department presentations and Q&A, the budget committee moved and seconded a recommendation to forward the proposed FY2025–26 budget to the City Council and to certify ad valorem property taxes for collection; both motions passed unanimously. The transcript records the tax certification language as a motion to certify property taxes and debt service in the amounts read into the record; the committee’s vote was by show of hands and recorded as unanimous.

The committee closed the public-comment period with no speakers and approved the recommendation to council; members also decided not to continue the meeting on a second night. The urban renewal agency convened afterward, echoed the same recommendation for its agency budget and passed its levies unanimously.

Next steps: City Council will receive the budget committee’s recommendation for final consideration and formal adoption; the transcript does not record a council adoption date.