Parker council adopts $18 million final budget for fiscal 2027

The Parker Common Council voted to adopt the town's final budget for fiscal year 2027, approving budgeted expenditures of $18,000,000 at its regular meeting.

Dennis, a town finance staff member, told the council the final budget mirrors the tentative budget the council previously reviewed but includes a recommendation to add about $6,000,000 so the town's spending authority matches the voter-approved alternative expenditure limitation. "What you have before you is the final budget'...we budgeted about a 3.5 percent increase for wages," Dennis said, adding that adopting the budget does not automatically put wage increases in place.

Council members asked staff for clarification about the additional $6,000,000. Dennis said the figure is intended as a cushion and an offsetting revenue placeholder rather than a specific, identified revenue source: "That's not a specific revenue source or expenditure that we currently know of, but this would be more of a cushion if we do get grant revenues for certain street projects or whatnot." He said the town would only spend those funds if actual revenues materialize.

Councilor [unnamed] moved to approve the final budget as presented; the motion was seconded and carried without a recorded roll-call of individual votes in the transcript. Mayor Hartless noted the $18,000,000 figure is a planning ceiling and that the town does not plan to spend the full amount unless additional grant or other revenues become available.

Next steps: staff may return to the council with any future wage decisions or expenditures that require separate council action or appropriation.