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Nowthen City Council Budget Work Session meeting, July 23, 2025

Council Work Session

Wednesday, July 23, 2025 · 6:00 PM

This meeting on the city's website ↗

Agenda

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What was on the agenda.

Packet

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The supporting materials the board reviewed.

Minutes

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The official record of what happened.

One-line summary

Council approved the agenda and early claims, then held a detailed first discussion of the proposed 2026 budget with consultant Lori Yager, including levy and fund balance targets, transfers, and departmental budget drivers.

What was on the agenda

4 items as recorded in the agenda, packet, and minutes, each with a short summary of what was at issue.

  1. 1Call to Order

    Pledge of Allegiance, Roll Call, Approve Agenda

    Agenda approved as presented after roll call and pledge.

    • meeting_procedure
    Approved
    p. 1Meeting City Council Budget Work Session — Agenda (2025-07-23)1. Call to Order · Pledge of Allegiance . Roll Call · Approve Agendap. 1Meeting City Council Budget Work Session — Minutes (2025-07-23)Mayor Hybben called the session to order at 6:00 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all in attendance. Roll call by Mayor Hybben. Present: Mayor Hybben, Council Member Breyen, Council Member Glaser, Council Member Swenson, and Council Member Rainville. Absent: None. Also present: Fire Chief Miller, Financial …
  2. 2Claims for Payments Due prior to August 12, 2025, Council Meeting

    The council approved paying claims that were due before the next regular council meeting date (August 12, 2025). The minutes record a motion to approve these early claims, carried on a 5-aye vote.

    Claims due prior to the next council meeting were approved.

    • claims
    Approved
    p. 1Meeting City Council Budget Work Session — Agenda (2025-07-23)2. Claims for Payments Due prior to August 12, 2025, Council Meeting.p. 1Meeting City Council Budget Work Session — Minutes (2025-07-23)## 2. CLAIMS FOR PAYMENTS DUE PRIOR TO AUGUST 12, 2025, COUNCIL MEETING MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, TO APPROVE CLAIMS DUE BEFORE AUGUST 12, COUNCIL MEETING. 5 AYES, MOTION CARRIED.
  3. 32026 First Budget Discussion with Financial Consultant Yager

    Discussion of proposed 2026 budget, including levy and fund balance use, departmental budget reviews, transfers, and scheduling follow-up sessions.

    Financial Consultant Yager presented the proposed 2026 budget prepared with staff using the CIP, equipment replacement plan, and spending through June 2025, and the council discussed the levy approach, use of fund balance, and department-by-department changes. Key items noted included continuing a $50,000 charitable gambling transfer to offset public safety/sheriff costs, a proposed general fund levy increase of $22,505, and debate over the target fund balance level (with a general consensus to aim around 50%, with the mayor stating comfort down to 40%). The council also reviewed transfers out to other funds, discussed the recycling fund’s staffing cost increase and noted the recycling center’s reported 2024 profit, reviewed debt service levy figures, and adjusted the schedule for future budget sessions (canceling August 6 and meeting August 20 and September 3).

    During budget discussion, Council Member Breyen raised concerns about the building improvement fund’s projected balance and planned spending for a building study and a council chamber remodel, suggesting the funds might be better used elsewhere. Mayor Hybben agreed and stated he did not see a need for remodeling the council chambers.

    Budget was reviewed and discussed; minutes do not record a motion adopting any budget or levy at this work session.

    • 2026_budget
    • levy
    • fund_balance
    • transfers
    Discussion only
    p. 1Meeting City Council Budget Work Session — Agenda (2025-07-23)3. 2026 First Budget Discussion with Financial Consultant Yager.p. 2Meeting City Council Budget Work Session — Agenda Packet (2025-07-23)Attached please find several summary reports for the Proposed 2026 Budget... As a result of this discussion staff is proposing an increase in the levy of $212,456 or 9.98% and an increased use of General Fund balance of ($497,975).p. 1Meeting City Council Budget Work Session — Minutes (2025-07-23)## 3. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED 2026 BUDGET Financial Consultant Yager presented the proposed 2026 budget that she and staff had prepared, utilizing the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), equipment replacement plan, and year-to-date expenditures through June 2025. Historical data from 2023 and 2024 was also considered when d…p. 3Meeting City Council Budget Work Session — Minutes (2025-07-23)The council agreed to cancel the August 6th budget session as Mayor Hybben would be unavailable, and instead hold sessions on August 20th and September 3rd. The August 20th meeting will focus on the general fund, while the September 3rd meeting will address remaining issues.
  4. 4Adjourn

    Adjourned at 8:03 p.m.

    • meeting_procedure
    Approved
    p. 1Meeting City Council Budget Work Session — Agenda (2025-07-23)4. Adjournp. 4Meeting City Council Budget Work Session — Minutes (2025-07-23)MOTION TO ADJOURN BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE. The meeting was adjourned at 8:03 p.m.

Motions and votes

3 motions on the record.

  • M1MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE TO APPROVE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

    Exact transcript text

    MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE TO APPROVE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

    moved by Breyen, seconded by Rainville

    Passed

    5 AYES, MOTION CARRIED.

    p. 1Meeting City Council Budget Work Session — Minutes (2025-07-23)MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE TO APPROVE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. 5 AYES, MOTION CARRIED.
  • M2MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, TO APPROVE CLAIMS DUE BEFORE AUGUST 12, COUNCIL MEETING.

    Exact transcript text

    MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, TO APPROVE CLAIMS DUE BEFORE AUGUST 12, COUNCIL MEETING.

    moved by Breyen, seconded by Rainville

    Passed

    5 AYES, MOTION CARRIED.

    p. 1Meeting City Council Budget Work Session — Minutes (2025-07-23)MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, TO APPROVE CLAIMS DUE BEFORE AUGUST 12, COUNCIL MEETING. 5 AYES, MOTION CARRIED.
  • M3MOTION TO ADJOURN BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE.

    Exact transcript text

    MOTION TO ADJOURN BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE.

    moved by Breyen, seconded by Rainville

    Passed
    p. 4Meeting City Council Budget Work Session — Minutes (2025-07-23)MOTION TO ADJOURN BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE.p. 4Meeting City Council Budget Work Session — Minutes (2025-07-23)The meeting was adjourned at 8:03 p.m.

Sources

Documents and recordings archived for this meeting, when available.

The summary on this page is AI-extracted and may need correction. The PDFs and the meeting recording are the official record. What do the trust labels mean?