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Council reviews three 2026 budget scenarios; staff backs balanced "Camry" plan
Summary
City budget staff presented three budget scenarios for 2026 — an aggressive reserve plan, a balanced "Camry" plan recommended by staff, and a fully funded request — and outlined revenue assumptions, contingency use, and planned midyear adjustments.
City budget staff presented three 2026 budget scenarios and recommended a middle option the presenter dubbed the "Camry" plan as the most responsible path to balance operations while beginning to rebuild reserves. Renee, the finance presenter, told the council the draft is conservative: "We're estimating that 376,000 to roll as reserves" at the end of 2025 and recommended moving away from using prior audited rollovers as recurring revenue.
The workshop walked through revenue assumptions (conservative property tax growth to account for SB 216 limits, projected sales tax increases tied to local reopenings, and cautious permit and license forecasts) and contingency use as a reserve mechanism. Renee said the strategic plan would tuck $1.2 million into reserves but would require deep operational cuts; the balanced approach would set aside about $200,000 while preserving basic service levels. Council members generally signaled support for the balanced plan and directed staff to refine the draft for a first reading in November and to schedule a public hearing.
