[0:34] Welcome everyone. We call this meeting to order. We'll

[0:38] begin by standing and

[0:49] United States of America

[1:13] Day here. >> Commissioner Hewitt

[1:16] » here. >> Commissioner Robertson

[1:18] » here. >> Commissioner Shaver

[1:19] » here. >> Commissioner Warren

[1:21] » here. >> Thank you.

[1:23] » And tonight we have a special agenda. It's item number one is discussion

[1:27] action on approving resolution number 4232

[1:31] of resolution relating to adopting a preliminary budget and providing a date

[1:37] for public hearing the adoption thereof in the fiscal year beginning July 1st

[1:43] 126 and ending July 30th 2027 and turning time over to city manager

[1:49] Holly. >> Yep. Um, so tonight we passed out uh the

[1:54] most up-to-date expenditures, revenues, which are the blue, and the gold sheet

[2:00] is our one sheeter. Um, we'll start with the blue, which is our revenue. Um, and

[2:06] I will I

[2:10] want to just look at the one sheeter first.

[2:14] So, we kind of review that because you guys have not seen that at all. Do you

[2:18] want to give them an update on taxes up? Oh, yes. I can give you an update on

[2:22] taxes. >> What I'd like to know first and

[2:24] foremost, >> we've received

[2:28] everything

[2:32] as of June 30th. I think there is

[2:38] they owe me a lot more. I have not had because I'm still getting

[2:42] I just got my final report today. So, I have not had time to balance it. balance

[2:47] to their number. So, I'll do that tomorrow. But when I look at what I

[2:52] posted and what I still have sitting out there, it looks like they still owe me

[2:55] in taxes the general fund side about 2003 300,000,

[3:04] » which is significantly more than previous year.

[3:07] » Yes. Um, we do know in talking with some of the other taxing jurisdictions that

[3:14] typically the treasurer would send out like late notices in June saying, you

[3:21] know, you have another month to get caught up. That didn't happen until

[3:24] July. Um, so >> and we're saying these are notices to

[3:27] the public, right? >> To the taxpayers. And so they that could

[3:32] attribute to a higher than normal delinquency.

[3:38] I've only had this happen one other time in all the years I've been here and it

[3:43] was with the utility protest. I don't know if there's a lot of that

[3:49] too. I know there is on the Ted side. I don't know. I'm having a very

[3:54] difficult time getting comfortable. >> You said Ted side.

[4:01] » And we know that there was a large pro. you know there was

[4:06] » there was okay >> um we don't know who but we were told

[4:12] that

[4:15] » so that brings the city's general fund into a better picture right now

[4:21] » um right now your one sher will show you if we approve the budget as presented

[4:26] tonight with the revenue >> um proposed it's total general fund tax

[4:31] or expenditures The remaining cash is 263,000.

[4:38] So it's in a positive manner and we have cut everything.

[4:44] » Yes. This is an extremely lean budget. When you say you cut everything, what is

[4:50] the everything? >> There's no extra money to go into our

[4:53] capital improvement for future. >> Okay.

[4:56] » There's no extra money to do any building maintenance this year.

[4:59] » Okay. >> There's no extra money. building

[5:02] maintenance across the city or just at the city office or what

[5:05] » mostly there but >> okay

[5:08] » um water and sewer and streets are

[5:11] different things so I'm just talking about general

[5:15] » um any of the accounts that had you know we're looking to buy computers or

[5:21] » special project >> special project or anything they were

[5:23] cut >> okay

[5:25] » um condensed down

[5:30] you know our Biggest thing right now is we still have a union negotiation in

[5:34] place. >> Um we have had some expenditure

[5:38] increases in uh contract services maintenance contract

[5:45] in my budget. >> Okay.

[5:46] » Um but on the flip side of that, we did

[5:50] have an increase to an attorney. We're trying to get an attorney and then um a

[5:58] planner is budgeted in there, but we didn't have a lot spent last year

[6:03] anyway. So, you know, there isn't a lot of difference there.

[6:07] » We have contract legal um >> a lot of contract legal.

[6:11] » We also have included >> it's included in the budget

[6:14] » in addition to an attorney. >> Yeah.

[6:18] Um, we have things like double payments on the court because we didn't pay for

[6:22] last year, things like that. So, that covers all of our obligations.

[6:28] » Um, all of our wages, um, you know, so obligations being like the police car

[6:33] and some of that stuff that we've already offered.

[6:36] » Where would the judge? >> Um, we'll get to it when we get there on

[6:41] the green. >> She was

[6:44] » Hold on. What's your question? Well, in case we have to do something different

[6:48] or the judge >> at this point, that is not in there.

[6:50] » Oh. >> So, at this point, if we were I mean,

[6:53] there's 135,000 in there because we owe that to the we owe that to the court.

[6:59] Now, something changes, of course, we'd have that money because we would not pay

[7:03] that. But at that point, if we are in that position, we're going to need to

[7:07] come back and do a budget amendment to look at. So, right now, no, there would

[7:10] not be any money for that. Now, is this man two or is this our

[7:17] » I'm talking about man. >> Man, well, you're talking if we had to

[7:22] go to our own court. >> Oh, right now we're with man to

[7:26] » go with status quo. Yeah. >> With the budget as it fits.

[7:30] » But I did not put anything in there. We had to go about our own

[7:36] » and all departments are aware of what's going to probably happen.

[7:40] » Yes. I

[7:45] was just

[7:49] » That's the biggest one there. The rest look okay. Um we have reviewed

[7:53] everything to make sure that we are in compliance and I will double check again

[7:58] with our budget exception that we had in the previous off.

[8:01] » And so that is will you explain you cannot have more than half cash

[8:06] remaining than you have in expenditures. So, if you go down, we'll just look at

[8:12] um cemetery improvements down at the way bottom.

[8:15] » I have to budget. I can't have more than 4 thou 400,000

[8:21] or any more than 200,000 on my cash remaining to be compliant.

[8:25] » So, that's why I budgeted 400,000. We are not expected in that

[8:32] that money's for when

[8:37] to be compliant with law happen in like the capital improvement program

[8:44] a lot of those depreciation.

[8:49] » Okay. >> Um so general fund I mean that is as

[8:54] lean as we could possibly get it. Uh we did put uh a proposal in for the police

[9:02] department um pro something that I feel that they will

[9:06] probably take. I mean it's very close to what um they had asked for originally

[9:12] » and that's the union negotiation which has not been completely confirmed yet

[9:17] but it's very close. >> Um

[9:21] » what does it include? Does that include a pay raise?

[9:25] » Yeah. of >> um it varies depending on the position

[9:30] from about a six to seven down to three or four. Yes.

[9:38] » 50% pay raise for

[9:44] » um any other questions that we can if you there's any areas you want a deeper

[9:50] dive we can definitely then go into expenditures and revenues. uh civic

[9:53] center recreation programs

[9:59] » structurally on this sheet >> using the very first one 1000 general

[10:05] » the proposed expenditure there is 5 million220

[10:10] how we know how much of that is actually

[10:16] versus can't keep you we can't keep excess

[10:21] » um so most of that is all in money that we actually spend. So you would be able

[10:28] to see it on your green sheet. Those are the uh expenditures for the general

[10:32] fund. And I think basically the general fund's going to take this

[10:40] through page

[10:45] again in reference to your question. Um, I have not talked to Holly about

[10:51] this, but from a financial standpoint, I am going to ask her

[10:57] to put a freeze on any capital expenditures

[11:03] with the exception of what we've obligated. You know, if the car comes

[11:06] in, we're going to pay for that. We need a car, you know, that kind of thing. I

[11:10] did not budget for another car. Um, but I am going to ask that we until we see

[11:14] where our taxes are that we button down >> kind of what we did or what we approved

[11:23] last week for.

[11:28] » Um, so there is, you know, some building maintenance. Um,

[11:33] you know, the fire department, I think Jimmy probably talked to us about

[11:37] helmets and wildland gear and stuff like that. So capital type improvements we

[11:41] ask most of our departments to hold off until after January kind of that March

[11:47] timeline before they expend those large expenditure capital

[11:51] » that was like that was that time of year.

[11:57] » Yes. But I'm also I'm also going to ask for any anything small. I mean computers

[12:06] um their helmets unless the helmet's destroyed. I don't think we should. I

[12:11] think we really need to just pay what we got to pay.

[12:16] » When you say you're going to ask, you're talking about the department.

[12:18] » I'm going to ask her. >> Okay.

[12:21] » From being I'm the finance officer. Once we get you guys approve everything,

[12:25] that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to go talk to her. up in the capital

[12:28] percentages you're talking about >> in capitalized purchases are typically

[12:33] over 5,000

[12:38] » and I don't know how to answer your question Tim

[12:41] » is is it equal

[12:46] but in future years not this year we could have a sheet similar to this that

[12:51] would be actual proposed revenues and actual

[12:57] expected expenditures versus budgeted expenditures. Not what the state wants,

[13:04] but what as managers of the community we see, hey, we're in great shape or boy,

[13:11] we've got a major shortfall. We're borrowing our savings.

[13:15] » That's what I can't tell from this budget.

[13:18] » Well, and I and I know what you're I understand. I just don't

[13:21] » It's not really a budget. is an expenditure

[13:24] » detail >> detail but it's not really a budget

[13:27] because a budget would show in out plus or minus in the red column right we're

[13:33] making it or losing money >> we're spending beyond

[13:36] » but that but that's on you know that's on the private side not on the

[13:39] government side government side at the end of the day if

[13:44] I pull a dollar out of my wallet and it's empty I just spent all I have

[13:50] pull a dollar out of our revenues Can we spend it all? We have no more savings. I

[13:55] can't tell from this how much of our savings account we're going to burn

[14:00] through this year. How upside down are we? Revenue to expenditure for the year.

[14:07] That's what I critical of what you're doing. I'm just

[14:12] simply saying this doesn't really tell us based on our income, what will our

[14:18] expenditures be? How much are we borrowing from past or other accounts?

[14:23] And I know it's I'm making it much simpler than it is. Much much simpler

[14:27] than it is. So Deb, when you quote this, be careful because

[14:32] » she'll listen to this. But when you quote it, be careful because I'm not

[14:36] trying to be critical. I'm trying to say, can we look at something that shows

[14:39] us a flow term? >> It might be a couple of things.

[14:45] I could I have to think about a little bit, but

[14:50] I could put something together like this just using our Indian number from last

[14:55] year. >> So, a cash balance.

[14:56] » I wouldn't be able to use a cash balance necessarily,

[15:00] but I can see if I can make it work that way.

[15:02] » You had another column in here that that simply said how much of the

[15:11] this $400,000 cemetery improvement. >> Uhhuh. Right.

[15:17] Is is that really going to expend or is that not going to expand?

[15:19] » None of it is. So my hand >> column that says

[15:23] » legally required budget allocation could be the column

[15:27] » which is what this is what that 400,000 is.

[15:32] » Could you but hold on let me make the money that's

[15:37] at 8010 in the cemetery can't be used up in the general fund. No, I'm not

[15:41] suggesting >> the fun.

[15:44] » I just want to understand, you know, I really want to understand

[15:50] the budgeting of what's going to go where.

[15:52] » Well, it's kind of a cash flow. Like we our cash flow is weird, right? Like we

[15:58] get our May taxes that come in and then we don't really see a whole lot of

[16:05] revenue, especially in the general fund, until we get our November taxes done

[16:09] again. And so it's kind of like a percent like

[16:14] where we're at in both revenue and expenditures too, right?

[16:18] Like what you've actually got compared to what you put looking at this one

[16:25] sheet. Could you watch

[16:30] cash available from the previous year? So if I had last year's one sheet

[16:38] » and this column that's saying cash available. So am I right in assuming

[16:43] that's kind of the snapshot of the general fund right now

[16:47] » today? Yes. >> Today.

[16:49] » So I mean I have my cash balance with the exception of the mess with the past.

[16:53] » Yeah. So that's what that would be. >> So basically that's what that's taking a

[16:58] snapshot view of what that account is >> or the general fund

[17:01] » on the general fund. If you had last year's one cheater,

[17:07] » could you see would that offer information to where we sit currently?

[17:15] » Not with last year's numbers, I don't think.

[17:19] » Yeah. >> You can see if it goes up or down.

[17:24] » It's not a trend. >> It would be a trend.

[17:27] » Exactly. So >> taking the snaps out view is hard in any

[17:31] kind of >> unfortunately with us. Yes.

[17:35] » But that could be a way of watching a trend of going up and that cash

[17:40] remaining >> increasing or that cash remaining going

[17:44] down. >> But I think that Commissioner Robertson

[17:48] is also asking okay we budgeted 1 million in taxes. Mhm.

[17:54] » What is and we're going to get that 1 million because the receivable from the

[17:58] taxpayers of that 1 million what is actually going to be spent?

[18:02] » Yep. >> So I could say salaries for police

[18:07] how much are we actually from prior budget cycles? How much are we not spend

[18:12] this budget cycle? >> I understand it's more complicated than

[18:16] a six column or a five column budget. I get that. But there's got to be a way to

[18:21] present it where we kind of get a sense of

[18:25] where we be and then

[18:32] in in the private world we also then say okay show me your capex budget just

[18:36] capex items and then I could say to you if I was the CEO of the day you're not

[18:42] spending anything for the next two months on any capex items or you could

[18:47] allocate capex and that's what you're talking Well,

[18:51] » without it delineated, >> it's hard.

[18:55] It's really hard for us as commissioners to look at you guys and say, "Hey,

[18:59] Ali, we think you should stop all Catholics spending over $100,000 for the

[19:06] next six months, freeze it, save your money,

[19:09] » right?" >> You know, that kind of thing. It's just

[19:11] hard to do and it's buried in here. >> Yeah. Well, I'm in the bar chart of

[19:15] accounting. Anything 900 is a capital, >> but you'd also have to go through each

[19:20] separate, you know, you're

[19:25] I understand.

[19:31] » Objection. Objective. >> Oh, I understand completely. It's a very

[19:35] good question. I and I thought about it and I just haven't got the

[19:40] I've tried a couple different things and it just look

[19:47] but it's definitely something I will work on.

[19:52] And then of course in our budget we have large one-time purchases um grant

[19:58] expenditures those sort of things. So in the general funds um you know we have

[20:03] our downtown master plan the library p our pro housing money is in there in the

[20:11] general fund >> it's in 2943 the planning fund because

[20:16] it'll be a CDBG project. >> Okay and that's the pro housing

[20:22] » I was wondering about that one. No, no, no, no. Pro housing is in the general

[20:27] fund. The downtown master plan and the library master plan are in the 2943.

[20:33] » Okay. So, that's two different C10 L and those are in 2943.

[20:41] » Okay. >> 50,000 each.

[20:45] » Um, you know, we tal have talked a lot about uh the cleaning up of the old

[20:51] dump. uh back also in a grant. Uh it is >> 285.

[21:00] And so right now we don't intend on spending that money. We bought all that

[21:05] revenue or authorized to expend all of that money. Uh but they don't have the

[21:12] capacity to get it done this next year. We did still budget for it though.

[21:17] » That's the DNRC one. >> That's a DNR. Yeah. It's a cleanup grant

[21:21] for DNS.

[21:28] » The 3401 is the new one, isn't it? Is that the one we got from the

[21:34] » No, that one it is. It looks new, but that's the one that we got the reserves

[21:39] for. >> So, that's your available cash is our

[21:42] reserve, >> which would be a payment amount. Mhm.

[21:47] » So, I'm hoping that I will check with the state that that'll be acceptable

[21:51] because >> it's at 50%. Right at 50%.

[21:57] » And that I'm hoping that we would never have to use it and that money would sit

[22:01] there. >> Yes.

[22:08] » What's 402?

[22:14] That's you know capital improvement program.

[22:16] » Um that's a capital improvement program strictly for my building over there.

[22:21] » Um anytime that we had extra cash at the end of the year

[22:26] » we put 100 to 200,000 in there. >> So you know if we needed a new roof um

[22:33] tornado >> expansion whatever we do have money to

[22:38] do that.

[22:42] I think I might be harping on kind of what Tim's talking about, but um if we

[22:49] the 12 12.6 million cash available right now,

[22:55] » where did that come from? >> Last year's budget leftover funds.

[22:59] » No, it's the end. It was was the cash available and all the funds on June

[23:04] 30th. >> So, it's basically taking a snapshot.

[23:08] » So, half of our budget is still in cash right now.

[23:14] But you but but you've got to look at that though one you know the higher ones

[23:19] tax increment street maintenance the reason that one we still got another

[23:24] half to our project you know our project went from last year to this year now. So

[23:30] we'll have another million coming out of there. Um gas tax this big project

[23:35] there's we're going to take money out of there too. Um, and then water and sewer,

[23:41] they're on a receivable basis.

[23:49] » I just say it's going to catch up to it someday though, isn't it? Is that kind

[23:53] of what you're talking about? I mean, if we got 12 million in cash and by the end

[23:58] of the year, cash may only be four million and then we do that again next

[24:03] year. >> No, it won't actually.

[24:06] » No. >> Yeah. No, because we're not going to

[24:08] spend all that >> because we can't

[24:10] » because what's in proposal expend >> right

[24:14] » it has to be a whole bunch of it has to be allocated as though it would get

[24:18] spent but it won't be spent because those projects are going

[24:22] » well but also in accordance with state law.

[24:24] » Yeah. >> So this year we're going to levy or $13

[24:29] million for tax. We're going to charge a tax period for 13.6 million. No,

[24:36] » we're going to charge them >> we're going to charge them 1,700,000.

[24:41] » Yes. The very >> When you're looking at this, this is

[24:44] every single fund. The only one that'll be taxes will be 20,000.

[24:48] » When I see when I talk about government revenue, it's all taxes,

[24:53] » right? >> But it's not.

[24:54] » Yeah. Where else did that come from? >> Uh fees,

[24:59] » state entitlement. That's a tax people paying

[25:04] » what? >> I don't want to give a whole lot of

[25:07] structure, but >> we're dealing with taxpayers money. It's

[25:10] a a fee is a tax. A government fee is a tax.

[25:15] » You look at the library trust that was a donation that was not a tax.

[25:20] » So there are multiple >> that is not tax

[25:25] » the sale of cemetery plot. I mean it's all

[25:30] I mean a very small portion of it is what we tax it.

[25:35] » Some of them are sib and kind of things like that where those local communities

[25:40] or the neighborhoods voted to have >> uh sewer or curb and gutter. Yep.

[25:47] » And so they voted and they said hey we want this and so now we have an account

[25:52] that basically we run make that pay. >> That's good. So that would be like your

[25:58] » the 361 >> Riverdale

[26:01] and 10 >> and those would be those are specific

[26:05] for those districts like we >> they're not additional

[26:08] » they're on here >> they are

[26:10] » they are 2310 and 2320 at the top and those are only in those districts

[26:18] » I was looking alphabetic it's all numerical by my

[26:28] I mean the court finds I mean all of that is contributing to your general

[26:33] fund revenue. >> What is home?

[26:37] » Okay. I was going to say who's home. >> Is that the one with the first time home

[26:45] buyers? I think it was the first time home buyers. Some of these are still

[26:49] from so long ago. I don't necessarily know. I'm sorry.

[27:11] There any other questions? You know, the fees we charge to the pool or

[27:15] memberships at the civic center, uh, camping permit at East Fork, all of

[27:20] those are part of your general fund as well.

[27:32] You hold a fun for the watershed. Do you hold that? What is that?

[27:38] » It was a grant. >> Which one is it?

[27:41] » Sorry. >> 2860.

[27:43] » 2860. You're This is what the story was told to be many, many, many, many, many

[27:47] years. >> So, this is an old one, too.

[27:49] » Yeah. This is really old. And when it runs out of money, we'll have to start

[27:52] charging the water department. But something was set up with East Dam back

[27:58] in the day. And whatever got set up, >> it could be

[28:03] and the electricity and the capital credits, all that retired

[28:07] » and so they've sent them to the city and then the city has been paying the

[28:12] electric bills for Eastport out of it. >> So that's where that's paid from right

[28:19] now until we run out of money because there won't be any more money coming in.

[28:23] No, >> but it had to be specific to esports. So

[28:28] it's still on its own. Yeah. where we have the lease money from

[28:31] the peace. >> The the lease money goes into

[28:37] the general fund um to help with our camping area and our

[28:42] recreation area out in all of the money basically generated at Eastport. get

[28:48] back to these

[28:58] um in the tip revenue or in the general fund revenue is the tip grant for the

[29:03] parking lots as well. Um, also the expenditure for the piping wall

[29:10] came out of that general fund. >> Is that considered a capital project? A

[29:16] long project?

[29:20] That's why we're going to get reimbursed halfway right away.

[29:24] » So, we didn't want to miss that opportunity either.

[29:30] And that's where you know with capital permits we like I said if a the car

[29:33] comes in we need if the firemen lose all their turnout.

[29:40] » Well and the same could be said for those depreciation accounts. If if the

[29:46] roof blows off you need >> boiler breaks.

[29:51] » Yeah. >> Yeah. The library has a flood. Yeah.

[29:54] » Exactly. >> Yeah. No, that and those would take

[29:57] priority priority over a computer or a trimmer or a lawnmower.

[30:09] » You come in with a heavy hit. We'll come in and hand pick these I guess.

[30:15] So the the bottom line of this green sheet with 22,132

[30:21] » that's also the same or should be pretty close to the same as the

[30:24] » proposing spending. >> Yep.

[30:29] » It might be a rounding. >> Well, it's a rounding thing receivables.

[30:33] Um I have to hand the one sheet I hand enter.

[30:38] » This is really this. >> Yeah, it's this and it's combining the

[30:43] green and the blue into one. Is that the revenue?

[30:45] » Yeah, like I said, >> there might be some

[30:50] fat finger and then there are some receivables that I do, you know,

[30:56] » already received. >> I've already received but how our system

[30:58] does it?

[31:08] Any other specific questions or anything that you guys want a deeper dive on?

[31:30] the Senate bill stuff that we looked at in

[31:37] late May, early June, somewhere in there,

[31:41] that went in effect July one, right? So, we won't see the difference

[31:49] because the tax base is going to change, right? So, in our certified values, it

[31:54] went into effect this year. The new property tax stuff, the tax bill, people

[32:01] have not seen it on their tax bill. So, we won't see that in revenue until

[32:07] November. >> November.

[32:09] and we have a pretty strong idea of what we know we're we're gonna get

[32:14] » because we know what we're supposed to get.

[32:18] » I turned my all my stuff I turned over to the league, the gal of the league

[32:22] that doesn't and she doubled triple checked it.

[32:25] » Okay. >> Used it as an example for all the

[32:27] community. So I think we're hoping >> hoping my numbers are good. Now from

[32:32] there that's my work. >> Okay,

[32:35] that's coming down there.

[32:40] passing it up whichever way you look at it.

[32:45] » So this year we were kind of in a position

[32:48] where we were paying the signature we were contracting out a lot of services.

[32:56] » Um very little was contracted out. Um, we had Martin doing some private for us

[33:03] and we had someone else doing some HR for us,

[33:07] » but during that time we were not paying Tyler. I mean, what we were paying Tyler

[33:11] was minimal. >> He's paid outly just his hours that he

[33:14] worked at the court. So, if he worked two hours in a week, that's all they got

[33:17] paid for. >> Nothing else.

[33:23] » And he gets paid out multiple times. Correct.

[33:27] So, it's hard to be like This is what we spent on wages for that position. Um,

[33:34] Nick, you would I be able to do a payroll register? It's going to be very

[33:38] difficult to see it in the >> but if you needed it either.

[33:42] » Okay. >> Uh,

[33:46] seems to be prudent to have a city attorney. Do we have

[33:51] » that? It's posted and it's included. >> Okay. So what's budgeted for that is a

[33:58] full planet.

[34:02] Okie dokie.

[34:19] So we cut

[34:24] » So we cut $2 million off the budget from last year offers.

[34:29] We spent 24 million50 last year. And if you were to spend 22 million

[34:34] » well when you're looking at the bottom line, you're taking into consideration

[34:40] both water and sewer. And water and sewer both had huge projects.

[34:45] They had both had a million2 million dollar project.

[34:49] » Okay. >> So they would not be in this year. They

[34:51] were last year and they finished last year. So none of that expense would

[34:56] carry. >> I want to give her votes first year.

[35:00] » We're lowering the budget.

[35:36] decline decrease in the general

[35:41] fund budget from 54 38 5.22 Right.

[35:50] » Expenditures are total >> expenditures if

[35:55] page seven sheet page >> last year is 5.389.

[36:02] » Yeah. >> This year 5.220

[36:05] » is what we're budgeting. Yeah. >> We're budgeting a decrease in spending

[36:09] of $1689,000.

[36:16] And you can see historically work. >> I'm not trying to be a pessimist here.

[36:22] But how can that be possible? Well, because of those big projects. I mean, I

[36:25] mean, when this is just general, >> they didn't put as much.

[36:31] » We did cut, but we also had one big project that we general.

[36:36] » Yeah. The slipper when we did all the sidewalks and the backup generator,

[36:39] stuff like that. But you know, we got reimbursed for all but 25% of that.

[36:47] » So, >> I'm impressed when the rest of us are

[36:49] paying 10 or 20% more for everything in life.

[36:52] » Yeah, that's if this didn't go up. That's pretty

[36:56] » That's what I'm doing. >> You didn't do my budget.

[36:59] » Well, we just try to unfortunately with the tax situation the way it is, we just

[37:03] we only get the increase this year with 50,000 that that doesn't even pay. it'll

[37:08] pay for doesn't need paper, >> let alone the like

[37:14] » negotiated raises and um I mean the over time some of that

[37:20] » or anything that we'd have to pay if it's an officer or a fireman to get that

[37:24] suited up your training and all that. So unfortunately it's our tax system.

[37:38] Well, again, because of the tax situation and the lack of confidence we

[37:44] have in our numbers >> and or when we may get the money, the

[37:50] rest of our monies, um, we are proposing a very lean budget like I don't think we

[37:56] could cut it anymore without the certainty of numbers.

[38:03] Should we be prepared to understand or review budget amendments if necessary?

[38:10] » We don't year. >> We will have a budget amendment and for

[38:14] last year. >> Yes. But um auditors are coming in to

[38:17] close off my year. >> When are they?

[38:20] » Well, they're coming just to do my year end stuff

[38:22] » in a couple weeks. >> Okay. And so I'm hoping that when they

[38:25] come in, they will take some time for task

[38:29] and look it over and, you know, see what they think cuz how I'm reading it, I

[38:37] don't think I got my money when I should have got my money, but there there's

[38:41] nothing I can I'm doing the best I feel I can

[38:45] with what with what I can. And there are other entities currently that are

[38:51] experiencing very similar.

[38:57] Okay.

[39:04] Would it be helpful if we get you the ones from previous years?

[39:10] You should still have at one point, but nice costume.

[39:18] Yeah, but then you can see I mean what we actually spent

[39:23] » versus what we had proposed and you can start kind of

[39:27] » getting those trends and patterns >> start to see the trajectory of the cash

[39:31] remaining which is trending up or trending down

[39:36] » the shirt's trending down I think

[39:40] » I think it all unfortunately because of cost of everything else whether it's

[39:44] employees or goods Everything's done. Yes.

[40:00] » Well, I know it hasn't been an easy six months with money. So, I appreciate uh

[40:09] your time and care that you take sharing these information with with us.

[40:16] So where do you see that like change or improvement that needs to happen for

[40:21] revenues? Is there really nothing that can shift down to

[40:25] » meaning to get those to increase

[40:29] » at the for taxes as of the legislature? So that's pretty much it

[40:33] » for the general >> now.

[40:38] If we if we went out and sought out more granting opportunities that increases

[40:43] your revenue, but it's going to kind of pigeon hole the funding that it can go

[40:50] into it will for one specific thing. >> But is that is that something that would

[40:56] be helpful or no? Or >> it depends. I mean we specific project

[41:00] is helpful >> like the TIFF approved parking lot

[41:07] project >> that could be something that

[41:12] if there were granting opportunities available

[41:16] that help off of the general fund

[41:22] more >> do they have people that chase grant or

[41:26] like professional grant t-shirts again. >> I don't know what they're called. Yeah.

[41:29] » Do they have them? >> I thought they did.

[41:32] » Would it be worth the city and the county to go in on one together or

[41:35] » not even so long? >> I will be really honest with you. Grants

[41:39] are a nightmare. Many of them are a nightmare. Right now, the state is

[41:45] changing employees left and right. And who you talked to two weeks ago is no

[41:50] longer available. and they change what they you're

[41:54] expected to submit on a regular basis until the state gets ironed out a little

[41:59] bit >> if

[42:05] there are

[42:08] well conversation.

[42:13] » Oh yeah, definitely. >> I mean, one of the successes is the

[42:16] sewer fund. You know, we've worked hard to get in a good position with sewer. Uh

[42:20] this year we were actually this cycle uh we actually set aside a million dollars

[42:26] to help with the bioolids project because we had the money available.

[42:30] » Yeah. >> Uh so while we're also whittling away on

[42:34] aging equipment and things like that, we're actually able to do those

[42:37] improvement projects. So rather than go out for a loan for $3

[42:43] million, we can actually offset it because we'll have some available cash

[42:47] and sewer and water enterprise funds. So we get to define a fee

[42:52] » there. So that's another >> structure that you can increase your

[42:56] revenue from. Of course you don't want to.

[43:00] » Yeah. >> And again it's it's uh

[43:05] uh not applicable across multiple. >> No. But for the sewer fund. So then the

[43:10] people that are using the sewer are paying for the use of the sewer.

[43:14] » Yeah. And again, we have to keep our fees in line with, you know, we can't

[43:20] undercut what we're charging people and be competitive with grants either. You

[43:25] have to be within kind of the middle range to be competitive with grants as

[43:29] well. So,

[43:37] we do have a lot of I mean, grants and opportunities for infrastructure. uh we

[43:43] often put in those applications.

[43:50] » Again, we're planning another big um street improvement project. I mean,

[43:55] we've got a good system in place where we can do large scale projects fairly

[44:00] regular and we did budget for, as discussed previously, a possible

[44:05] citywide SID. >> So, we have set aside engineering funds

[44:10] within the street department. We're kind of looking at citywide SADs also that

[44:15] narrow streets and parking on those narrow streets um boulevard things like

[44:20] that. So some of that planning of sort is also budgeted in the street plan in

[44:26] that case. I saw that it's an exact,000.

[44:32] » That's what budgeted. If we need more, I think we

[44:36] » Oh, I was saying that's what you budgeted was precisely, as I said,

[44:40] » and a significant amount more than previous.

[44:45] » Um, we also have things like in the water department,

[44:49] our meter. Um, we are working very diligently to get them all to a radio

[44:53] read where we can read them with computers rather than having guys have

[44:58] to go and do a walking route. Uh, so keeping up our infrastructure and

[45:04] improving it. In fact, um, we're making conscious efforts to continue those

[45:10] projects as well.

[45:21] light maintenance. You know, we've got three broken historic lights and uh are

[45:26] working to uh get those lights replaced or fabricated. Uh that has been a

[45:34] project. Um but we do have money set aside for those uh once we get the

[45:39] vendor to do it. What about the noxious weed budget

[45:46] better than the recreational and general?

[45:49] » So we have some in trails and some in recreation.

[45:53] » We spend a lot on

[46:03] » What's the county doing for their district? Are they contracting out right

[46:06] now? That's what we have been told is they're contracting the private.

[46:12] Okay. where their

[46:14] » the land has the dams that we own. Would that be county or

[46:18] » for the week? >> Um so in the past we have worked with

[46:21] the county to do it. Um either they sprayed it remember all of the city

[46:27] taxpayers are paying into the weed district. um in Sony Pass, they were

[46:32] able to give us chemical um a value a set aside amount of chemical um that we

[46:39] could then go out and we had certified operators to go spray that. Um at this

[46:44] point, none of that has happened.

[46:54] And do we know Bob Long

[46:59] there and he's the leader coming up right? But is that plan on lease? Didn't

[47:05] they lease that or >> um not at Hampton?

[47:09] » It was all East. Okay. I got confused. But if it was leased, they'd be dirty.

[47:16] Correct.

[47:21] How much land kind of borders each

[47:28] it pretty significantly or well at Pike

[47:32] Creek we don't own any >> um Hansen we have a lot by the hatchery

[47:38] itself >> right yes

[47:41] » and so most of it is actually on hatchery side you know above or fans and

[47:47] then all of the hatchery land. Um, East we have quite a bit. Um, Cedric is none

[47:53] of our county

[47:57] is

[48:00] » where's Bley.

[48:04] » So, we operate the dam, but we don't actually own the land. Um, some of it a

[48:10] hybrid

[48:23] feel like they

[48:28] really want to say want to improve this when you say what can be improved,

[48:36] right? You're going to give counsel to the city

[48:41] manager to this and this and that. Does that come back to the commission for

[48:46] review or is that just report back though.

[48:50] » Y >> let us know what what decisions you've

[48:52] made, what phrases you put or what action

[49:04] motion to approve 232.

[49:08] » Second. We have a motion from Commissioner

[49:12] Robertson and his effort from viewers. Any other questions regarding the

[49:18] budget, what we discussed tonight, >> before we move on to the vote, can you

[49:25] please outline the next steps we as the commission will have to take because we

[49:31] approve this preliminary budget, but then you're setting the date for your

[49:36] public hearing. Okay. And we'll pass like 13 resolutions. Actually, 14 with

[49:42] our 10%. Yeah, I don't know. Yeah. >> Okay. So, this budget and we'll double

[49:50] check it. I mean, there will be very little changes unless we find clerical

[49:55] things. You guys review this. We still will have an opportunity to look over

[50:00] this one more time next week. >> Um,

[50:05] if there's additional reports and stuff, we'll see what we can come up with or

[50:10] more information you guys want. Uh, we can definitely do that. Uh other than

[50:15] that, we will go through all of those items. Uh setting assessments, um number

[50:21] of mills, uh doing public hearings for everything.

[50:26] And so, but by and large, this will be the

[50:30] budget that we will be proposing to pass on on the

[50:34] » this process for motion.

[50:39] » Correct. That was gas. Yeah. And I've advertised everything through

[50:46] the next two things. >> Okay.

[50:49] » Let's do call. >> Okay. Commissioner Bowser.

[50:53] » Hi. >> Commissioner Buer.

[50:55] » Hi. >> Commissioner Day.

[50:57] » Hi. >> Commissioner Hwitt.

[50:59] » Hi. >> Commissioner Robertson.

[51:00] » Hi. >> Commissioner Shaver.

[51:02] » Hi. >> Commissioner Warren.

[51:04] » Hi. >> Thank you.

[51:09] citizens request

[51:15] that let's move on to commissioners minutes

[51:19] for the evening. Commissioner Shaver, >> actually I actually do have something.

[51:24] It's kind of an ask of the rest of the commission and I don't know if the

[51:28] timing is all right, but I was thinking I talked to Paulie and

[51:34] Danny on this or we're talking I was talking about I want to see all the city

[51:39] employees, the fire department and um police department, all the city

[51:44] employees to be able to use the city facilities free.

[51:48] And I don't know if we can pass that at another time, but I don't I know we

[51:54] can't pay them ahead of money, but there's no reason. Plus, I think the

[51:58] synergy of other people using our facilities or none of them are too busy

[52:02] anyhow. That might help pick up. That's my proposal and I don't know have

[52:07] to wait another meeting to get that in a motion.

[52:11] » We can't. It's not on the agenda. Still something can happen.

[52:14] » But that's something I want to I guess think about that. I don't know why the

[52:18] city employees can't use our city facilities.

[52:24] » Civic center, pool, >> swimming pool, civic center,

[52:28] » library. >> Are you including your families?

[52:31] » Yeah. >> It doesn't cost us anything. It shows

[52:36] goodwill. It I like the idea that it put more people in the swimming pool. It'll

[52:42] put more people in the city center. When more people go to a place, it starts to

[52:45] pick up.

[52:48] So we have authored the civic center um >> to the to the bargaining agreement

[52:59] that's why I said I don't know >> we offered pay for

[53:04] » we're still paying for it so that we get the revenue showing that they're using

[53:08] it so everything's you know on the up and down but again it's within the fund.

[53:13] » Yeah. And then you and also follow your

[53:16] expense >> that and I would like to thank you too.

[53:19] This is really a lot less painless than I thought it was supposed to be. So you

[53:23] guys did a good job. Thanks. >> For less money than blind. Good job.

[53:27] » Come see us with a question. >> That's it.

[53:35] » Oh, I wanted to say thanks. They fixed the potholes up on street and that's

[53:41] great because they were huge and I got a couple calls. I got a I got to Holly

[53:45] about the one um somebody was wondering about getting removal trees removed off

[53:49] the boulevard and she said that their city's kind of looking out of contract

[53:54] for a tree guy and says I just had a tree guy doing my tree top of mind. And

[54:00] then I got another call from a guy that says that he's got a he said a frantic

[54:04] drain that's not a French drain. It's just a a city drain on Erie that's needs

[54:09] to be cleaned out. He's called several plans. got his information and I thought

[54:13] about calling back after we discussed it. But I asked her, "Is it a French

[54:18] drain that you put in?" Because I have a French drain. I think he just meant as a

[54:21] city because we are a little bit

[54:26] like I don't think that's what she meant. But anyway, it was false this

[54:30] week. So yeah, but I'll try to follow up and know where we are with that. Okay,

[54:36] that's it. Robertson,

[54:40] » two things. Uh, I received another email um from

[54:46] a resident who would like to know when we're going to start enforcing something

[54:51] about cats to allow residents to protect their property from invasive species.

[54:59] » Then you have to be invasive species, >> meaning cats. that

[55:02] » would like to know and I'm going to paraphrase when they he

[55:08] could start scrapping or removing cats from his property that go on his

[55:11] property. >> I don't think you could do it any time.

[55:16] » Pardon? >> Well, is that the answer? I don't think

[55:20] that's a legal right now to capture someone's cat and

[55:23] » I was you can live.

[55:26] » I don't see why you could live track it. >> I don't know if you're going to make a

[55:30] lot of friends. Yeah, >> this president don't see care

[55:36] to remove axe. And that beg the question for me is well

[55:41] um I live on the edge of tunnel and I have all kinds of invasive species in my

[55:47] yard whether they be deer or

[55:52] » rabbits >> rabbits or over the years um

[55:58] elk moose bear

[56:01] » and mountain. >> Wow. And so maybe this begs a bigger

[56:06] question which is we live in a wild place

[56:11] domesticated I understand which are some of the more wild

[56:17] in terms of my right if there is a moose in my backyard can I shoot it

[56:22] » we know >> no I can't

[56:24] sure right so um >> the real question

[56:29] » what are we going to do about cats >> what are we going to do about cats and

[56:33] dogs that pass and protect them. And uh so from a serious standpoint, u we have

[56:39] bounced this ball around that maybe this group has no interest in managing

[56:45] cats that people let out of their door at night or during the day. I think we

[56:49] just need to take a position at some point and answer a sense question and

[56:53] say, are they going to do something or not?

[56:55] » And it is a conundrum that comes up often.

[56:58] » Comes up. Well, and we've talked as an ordinance committee. Um, and I mean

[57:03] really the best place, the first place to start is with some sort of licensing.

[57:08] So, I mean, you guys have an appetite for licensing of cash. Actually, I want

[57:14] to go off of that and go with that and add to that the

[57:19] comment made from a resident expert if you call her that who does

[57:25] animal management is um capture neuter or spay and release.

[57:34] So, if you're a person that lets your cat roll, you leave, you should expect

[57:38] that if it's not fixed, it's going to get fixed eventually by the city.

[57:42] » If they can figure out who you are, they're going to give you a bill. And if

[57:45] not, your cat's going to disappear for a week if all of it heals and then it's

[57:49] going to show up again in your neighborhood, but it's going to fix.

[57:53] You should be prepared for that. Many, many communities are having a lot of

[57:58] luck with this process because >> expense, right? So at it would be at the

[58:03] community's expense but offset by something like a cat license.

[58:08] » Yeah. >> Or if the police department finds out

[58:12] that you don't have a a fine for you for your cat being

[58:17] in the community. >> Are we kind of stuck with by our

[58:21] ordinance? No matter what it would require an order

[58:26] » this conversation like we've had it multip and it really does pivot around

[58:32] what safe is doing in a way again they don't want

[58:39] » they said >> they'd like to see something done they

[58:42] their suggestion I'm using them as the example their suggestion is capture

[58:48] » mayor no release >> we need a city attorney though to have a

[58:54] process for that. >> Yeah, we will. I'm just making it.

[58:57] » Yeah, >> I got the email. I will respond to

[59:02] » I'll turn the Well, I'll apparently end it my um I'll turn the page and just say

[59:08] um I spent the last four days up at Celely Lake, Montana at beautiful place

[59:13] to be. They are stuck. They cannot expand their community. They can't build

[59:18] a hotel. You can't build a house with a sewer system in it. They don't have a

[59:23] city sewer system. >> It just reminds me how good we have it

[59:28] compared to Montana. They can't do anything. They can't They're really

[59:33] stuck. You know, their economy is in really tough shape because the mill is

[59:36] gone. They have no way to generate more revenue in that community. Nothing to do

[59:41] other than have more tourists who all are flush toilet and there's no sewer

[59:46] system. So they are having to bite the bullet and figure this out. They're also

[59:51] in Missoula County. And just imagine how challenging that is to deal with

[59:56] Missoula County being a rural community a long way away. So much so that they're

[1:00:01] looking at that side of the community is looking at seeding itself, cutting

[1:00:06] itself off county in the state of Montana. All seriousness, it's they're

[1:00:11] working on it right now. So, but the big thing that I want to

[1:00:15] just remind everybody is we have a smart plan that operates and we can flush

[1:00:21] ourselves because we have wonderful

[1:00:27] time.

[1:00:32] Um, I was trying to look

[1:00:40] again a note about boulevards and keeping that on our mind about how we

[1:00:50] want to address those. What is it like 12 blocks in

[1:00:55] town? there are people that are interested and

[1:01:00] if that ever comes up let know and then

[1:01:07] that is it

[1:01:14] » um I got couple calls and then a couple people came up to me talk about parking

[1:01:22] permits and then talk about the purple parking that they have I think in

[1:01:27] Bosezeman where each house has a purple

[1:01:33] slot that's a permanent parking only parking space. So I got quite a bit from

[1:01:39] this road up here, but I had a couple people

[1:01:44] from over on Boulevard and some of the apartments and stuff asking about

[1:01:48] permanent parking over there because bunch of workers take up their parking

[1:01:52] spaces that work in the area. So

[1:01:58] I don't know just lots of people wondering if there's a possibility of

[1:02:04] peripart >> it would be an ordinance change is

[1:02:08] » do you know in both a lot of multif family

[1:02:15] buildings each one of those doors in that building get it correct

[1:02:22] » so >> I I just don't know

[1:02:24] » I'm not trying argue the point one way or the other. I just can't imagine that

[1:02:28] a taxpaying resident at, you know, in in unit 202 would feel pretty strongly that

[1:02:36] they pay their taxes >> as a resident.

[1:02:39] » Where's my part? >> And so I can again, we know some people

[1:02:43] that live down there, younger people, and so like in complexes or private

[1:02:49] developments, so are not public streets. Um they do have parking permits uh one

[1:02:55] per unit and there is no guest parking. So if you have people stop over it's

[1:03:02] like good luck. >> Yeah. April

[1:03:16] one before um this last week we had our downtown master takeoff meeting. It's

[1:03:23] really exciting to think about, you know, what can come downtown and having

[1:03:28] that master plan be done of looking at stakeholders within the

[1:03:34] community and we'll be a lot of future public engagement for that. So hopefully

[1:03:41] with your city manager report you give a little give a timeline and what's

[1:03:46] happening and what's

[1:03:58] efficiency. We should just meet every Monday

Special Meeting of the Lewistown, Montana City Commission from August 31st 2026

Transcript