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Council presses staff on jump in Water Fund employee benefits; staff pledges follow-up analysis
Summary
Councilmember Schillen questioned a sharp rise in Water Fund employee benefits in the FY2026 packet; Director Anderson and staff said turnover, reassignments and added water projects likely explain the change and promised a three-year analysis for the next meeting.
During budget review, Councilmember Schillen (speaker 4) singled out the Water Fund on page 17, noting employee-benefit charges rose from roughly $18,000 (2020–21) to about $144,000 for the coming year and asked why the fund’s benefits had more than doubled while the sewer fund did not show a similar pattern. "For this coming budget year, it's a 144,000," Schillen said while walking through line‑item history.
Director Anderson (speaker 7) and other staff said turnover, reassignments among water, sewer and streets, and increased water projects likely drove the fluctuation and that higher-salaried employees shifted allocations across funds. Anderson said he would provide a deeper three‑year analysis and staff committed to return with additional detail at the council's next meeting, when water-specific items will be discussed further.
