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Chadron council reviews unbalanced 2026–27 budget, asks staff to prioritize projects
Summary
At a July 7 special workshop the City of Chadron council heard a draft 2026–2027 budget and directed staff to prepare a prioritized list of projects and department cost-saving options after City Manager Tom Menke reported the general fund is not balanced. The first reading was set for Aug. 3, 2026.
CHADRON, Neb. — The City Council of the City of Chadron met in a special workshop on July 7 to review a draft budget for the fiscal year beginning 2026 and to seek direction after managers reported the general fund is not balanced.
City Manager Tom Menke distributed a draft proposed budget and summarized department requests; department heads and supervisors reviewed expenditures for their departments. Menke told the council the general fund “is not balanced” and asked for direction on which projects and expenditures should be prioritized.
Councilmember Shane Shepherd asked Menke to prepare a prioritized list of projects and expenses for the council’s review. Councilmembers also asked department supervisors to identify potential cost-saving measures and areas where reductions can be made. The council set the first reading of the budget for the City Council meeting on Aug. 3, 2026.
The meeting opened with Mayor George Klein reading the posted Open Meetings Act notice: “As required by Section 84-1412, subsection 8 of the Nebraska Statutes, notice is hereby given that a copy of the Open Meetings Act is posted for your examination on the wall inside the door to these City Council Chambers.” The workshop began at 3:00 PM and adjourned at 6:25 PM after a motion by Councilmember Mark Graves and a second by Councilmember Clay Andersen.
No specific dollar amounts or item-by-item cuts were adopted at the workshop. The council’s direction asks staff to return a prioritized list and identified reductions for further council consideration before the formal first reading in August.
