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Finance officer outlines balanced 2026–27 draft budget; council asks follow‑up on mill levy and line items
Summary
Finance Officer Michelle Stoke presented a first‑reading budget with a projected general‑fund balance (about $300,350) after proposed cuts; council and staff discussed mill levy, capital items and several reclassifications, and adjourned the hearing with directions to circulate follow‑up answers by email.
Michelle Stoke, Chadron finance officer, presented the city’s first‑reading budget for fiscal year 2026–27 and said staff had already corrected multiple errors in a subsequent draft. "We made a bunch of cuts and it is now balanced with about $300,350 in fund balance for the general fund," Stoke said.
Council members reviewed department reductions (building and zoning asked to cut ~12%), a 53% cut in contingent reserves and reclassification of several projects to other funds (including moving an aquatic‑center line item into Fund 45 and $20,000 from parks/cemetery to an infrastructure fund). Members asked staff to clarify capital items such as a police‑department roof (fund 13) and revised door estimates for the fire department.
The mayor and staff discussed tax revenue projections and mill levy calculations; staff said current mill levy is approximately 0.39 and that final property valuations from the county are expected in mid‑August. "We won't get our valuations from the county until mid‑August," a staff member said, noting the uncertainty in revenue projections.
Council agreed to adjourn the public hearing and requested that members submit follow‑up questions to staff by email so staff can provide written answers ahead of the next meeting or the second reading of the budget ordinance.
