Public raises questions on lodging tax, sewer fees and staffing during Shady Cove budget hearing

The Shady Cove City Council heard public questions about revenue and fee assumptions during a June 11 public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2026–27 budget.

Mayor Lena Richardson opened the hearing at 6:01 p.m. and accepted public comments from Shari Tarvin and Natalie Swenender. The mayor and staff addressed several points raised by the public, including the transient lodging tax (TLT) estimate, the treatment of tax certification for sewer and public safety fees, and sources of the general fund transfer for law enforcement.

City figures presented during the hearing showed three‑quarter actual TLT receipts for 2025–26 of $60,050 ($24,152 in the general fund and $25,898 in the TLT fund); staff described a $75,000 estimate for FY 2026–27 as reasonable relative to that three‑quarter total. Council and staff also described that tax certification for sewer fees and public safety fees is included in the relevant estimates and that, following audit findings, a fiduciary fund was established to isolate sewer fees that are paid to the city and transfers to RVSS. Councilor Nuckles noted that beginning fund balances were not included in the budget document and emphasized that the Street Fund contains state‑restricted money that must be used only for street work; he supported adding one FTE to the Street Fund to address deferred maintenance.

The public hearing record in the meeting minutes shows questions were raised by named public commenters but the transcript does not include verbatim statements by those commenters. Staff and the mayor provided the clarifications summarized above during the hearing; the council closed the hearing at 6:23 p.m.