Mabton opens public hearing on preliminary FY2026 budget; staff say draft shows no ending balance

The Mabton City Council opened a public hearing on its preliminary fiscal year 2026 budget on Nov. 25, with staff walking council members through the packet and the chair noting the draft currently shows no ending balance. "If this gives us none of that, it's budgeted into the last phase, it gives us no ending balance," the chair said while directing members to the revenue and expenditure pages.

A staff member explained the documents in the packet are projected numbers for next year, with anticipated revenues followed by planned expenditures. "These are just numbers for next year," the staff member said, noting that the budget may still require moving funds between lines and other adjustments as staff reconcile reports. Staff also told the council that reconciliation work on past years is ongoing and that the State Auditor's Office will schedule financial audits because the city receives federal grants.

Council members asked clarifying questions on specific line items and whether the packet had been reviewed; no public speakers offered substantive comments against the draft during the hearing. The council did not take a final vote on the budget at this meeting; staff indicated further adjustments may be required before adoption and that formal adoption steps would follow the reconciliation and audit schedule.