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Council sets high-watermark budget ceiling of $155.3 million, schedules Sept. 1 hearing
Summary
Council approved Resolution 26-064 to set the FY2026–27 high-dollar budget ceiling at $155,307,037 and scheduled a public hearing for Sept. 1, 2026; finance staff outlined potential cuts and estimated a $66 annual city-tax increase for a $600,000 home under certain assumptions.
Finance Director Katie Ebner reviewed the statutory process for setting the budget ceiling and walked the council through assumptions and potential reductions to address an estimated preliminary operating deficit. She explained the high-watermark concept required by Idaho code and said the figure presented, $155,307,037, is a ceiling for public notice and not the final adopted budget.
Ebner detailed options to reduce the projected general-fund deficit (for example, deferring a building-inspector FTE or certain equipment purchases) and said vacancy-management savings could play a role. She clarified property-tax examples, saying, "62¢ on every dollar is spent on public safety," and reported an illustrative increase of about $66 annually on the city portion of a $600,000 home under the county-assessed valuation assumption presented. Council approved setting the hearing and the high-dollar amount by roll call.
