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Pocatello officials present $186.6M FY27 budget; resident questions airport spending
Summary
City finance staff presented a proposed $186.6 million FY27 budget and described using 1% of the city's foregone tax capacity (~$375,000). A resident questioned a jump in airport spending and the mayor and staff noted large grant receipts can create one-year spikes.
City finance director Rich Morgan told the council the proposed fiscal 2027 budget totals $186,600,000 — roughly a 7% increase over last year — and that property tax revenue is projected at $37,500,000, about 20% of the total. Morgan said the budget uses 1% of the city's available foregone property-tax capacity, an amount of roughly $375,000, and explained the statutory limits and how foregone amounts may be reserved and used in future budgets.
A member of the public, Karen Ludwig, asked about a large apparent increase in airport spending from about $4.5 million to $20,080,000 in the budget documents and suggested regionalization of air service. Ludwig said she was "disappointed to see us continue to sort of pour money into what seems like a failing proposition" and questioned subsidies. The mayor and Morgan responded that the city has not subsidized commercial service in recent years, that SkyWest currently serves Pocatello without subsidy, and that large, one-time grant revenues for capital projects can cause large line-item increases in the budget; staff offered to meet with Ludwig for more detail and noted the council will take public comments into consideration before final votes on Aug. 19.
This meeting was an informational public hearing; council did not vote to adopt the budget or fees tonight. Rich Morgan directed members of the public to the city's OpenGov budget portal for detailed line items and promised more presentation at the next council meeting.
