Merrill committee begins review of 2027 capital budget, defers funding decisions

The Merrill Committee of the Whole met Aug. 12 to begin review of the city’s 2027 capital budget requests, focusing on project descriptions and scope rather than immediate funding decisions. Mayor Haas called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m., and the committee heard presentations from library, parks and public safety staff.

Committee members signaled they wanted staff to present as many projects as possible during the hour and defer detailed funding discussion to the next budget meeting. “What I’d really like to do tonight is just go through the projects, get through as many as we can, and then we’ll finish up any projects at the next [meeting], and then we can sort of talk then about funding options,” a staff presenter told the committee during the opening of the capital review.

The agenda included a broad set of requests: a comprehensive plan update, election tabulator replacement, fire department vehicle and radio replacements, library roof and carpet work, multiple parks and aquatic‑center repairs, and equipment purchases for maintenance crews. Committee members and staff agreed to reconvene Aug. 25 at 5 p.m. to continue the budget discussion and to move into a closed session on EMS contract negotiations later in the evening.