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Council receives budget timeline; resident urges use of street fund amid audit concerns
Summary
Staff said Keene aims to hold a budget workshop soon and target Sept. 17 for budget adoption; resident Thomas Gutwa pressed the council to transfer funds to a street fund now, warning that repeated audit-related delays and runoff costs could leave projects unfunded.
City staff updated council on proposed FY 2026-27 revenue, demographics and budget timing and said they aim to hold a revenue-focused budget workshop next Thursday and target Sept. 17 for formal adoption if certified values arrive in time.
"Our goal is still to try to present it on Thursday," Council member (S5) said, while Miss Russell noted the certified appraised value must be reported by Aug. 7 or "as soon as reasonably practicable," and that the proposed budget must be filed 30 days before adoption (a target Aug. 17 filing for a Sept. 17 adoption). Staff cautioned that some estimates were still being verified.
During public comment, resident Thomas Gutwa urged the council not to defer transferring money to the street fund because an ongoing property-tax protest and audit complications could prevent future transfers. "The runoff was $25,000 because we were on our own," Gutwa said, arguing that repeated unexpected costs can compound.
Staff responded that surplus policy language governs transfers into the street fund and that some road projects are expected to be paid with grants and EDC funds; staff said they will include street-fund details in upcoming budget discussions.
