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Finance presents $62.5M draft budget, flags liability and firefighter costs
Summary
Finance staff told the workshop the 2025 comprehensive budget is roughly $62.5 million, with liability insurance and the transition of 16 SAFER-funded firefighters into the regular budget as major cost pressures; finance will present an amended budget on Nov. 6 (documents to be provided to council beforehand).
Finance presented the high-level 2025 comprehensive budget and the calendar for adoption, noting the city’s comp budget is roughly $62.5 million and that Nov. 30 is the statutory deadline to adopt a budget.
The finance presenter said roughly 58% of the comp budget is allocated to public safety and about 20% to public works. A sharp rise in liability insurance — cited as growing from $99,000 in 2023 to $618,000 in 2024 — was identified as a key driver of increased spending in the mayor’s portion of the budget. Finance also warned that 16 firefighters currently paid under a SAFER grant will transition to the city payroll next year, creating about $1.5 million in additional annual cost; the department has set aside roughly $565,000 to smooth that impact.
Finance said the amended budget will be presented to the council on Nov. 6 and that members will receive supporting documents in advance; staff noted sales-tax and other revenue assumptions (short-term rentals, cannabis, parking) remain uncertain and collections arrive with a two-to-three month lag.
