Coats adopts interim July–August 2026 budget while awaiting state bill 474

The Town of Coats Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on June 29 to adopt an interim budget for July and August 2026 that appropriates $511,092 across all funds and draws $381,139 from the general fund balance. Commissioner Shirley Allen moved the measure and Commissioner Marc Powell seconded; the motion passed with no recorded dissents.

Town Attorney Al Bain recommended the interim budget to allow the board more time to assess the impact of pending state legislation (referred to in the minutes as bill 474) on property revaluation and local tax revenues. Town Manager Barbara Hollerand told the board staff prepared two full-year budget scenarios—one that assumes a property re-evaluation and one that does not—and that the interim measure would preserve operations until the board can adopt a final fiscal-year budget.

The interim budget document lists available fund balances and line-item appropriations: General Fund balance available $381,139 and Water Fund balance available $129,953, for a combined $511,092 in projected revenues. Line-item general fund appropriations include Governing Board $14,530; General Management $63,554; Police/Public Safety $123,484; Parks and Recreation $44,647; Solid Waste $65,833; Streets $29,408; and Planning/Zoning $25,483. Water Fund appropriations list Operations $89,953 and Purchased Water $40,000.

The board’s action keeps the town operating on a short-term basis while staff and the board continue to monitor the status of bill 474. The minutes state the interim budget was adopted so the board could later determine what, if any, changes the state legislation would require to the full fiscal-year budget.