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Council planning session lists COLA, one-mil tax cut and keeping 5% utility franchise fee among top priorities
Summary
At a Jan. 16 planning session, the Westminster City Council prioritized a cost-of-living adjustment for city employees, a one-mil property tax reduction, and retaining a 5% utility franchise fee to support the general fund.
Mayor Brian Ramey called a special planning session of the Westminster City Council to order at 8:00 a.m. on Jan. 16, 2026, to review proposed priorities for the coming budget year. City Clerk Kiley Carter certified a quorum and the council reviewed a planning list of "MUST DO" items that the packet said were top priorities for the next budget cycle.
The planning list identifies three headline items: "MUST DO COLA for employees," a proposal for "One mil tax reduction in budget," and an instruction to "Keep 5% utility franchise fee (from WUD to GF)." The list also included direction to "Find ways to generate additional revenue without raising taxes or fees." The minutes do not record an individual sponsor for these items; they were considered collectively by the council during the workshop.
Why it matters: a COLA affects payroll costs and employee retention; a one-mil tax cut would reduce property tax revenue; and keeping the 5% franchise fee shifts utility revenue to the general fund, affecting both utility operations and the city's operating budget. Councilmembers did not make final votes on budget policy at the session; the meeting focused on reviewing options and priorities for inclusion in the upcoming budget.
