The Grants Pass Budget Committee met and gave tentative approval of the budget items discussed during their 6 p.m. meeting last night.
To start the Tuesday meeting, the committee voted Terry Hopkins as Budget Chair, and Tom Bradbeer as Vice Chair. After the Budget Committee Ground Rules were adopted, City Manager Aaron Cubic presented the Budget message, starting with an overview of the Budget Process.
Following yesterday's meeting, two more are scheduled for April 30th and May 5th for the proposal of the budget, followed by approval and adoption of the budget, with changes possible after the adoption.
City Council will set policy direction and define levels of service for programs and services, while the committee will ensure the budget allocates resources accordingly. Additions to the 2027 budget include six police and six fire positions, with minor staffing adjustments.
The total Fiscal Year 2027 budget was presented to be $297,247,088, with part of the increase over last year's budget coming from the Water Treatment Plant. Next years proposed operating budget is $61.9 million. Potential challenges include city expansion, Caveman Pool, the Water Treatment Plant, health care costs, and continuing in the third year of the five year Public Safety Levy.
Lands and Buildings Capital Projects presented include Dollar Mountain, Surplus Property Sales, Fire Equipment Replacements, and Small and Large Parks projects. The Police Budget presentation showed a proposed budget at $27,381,976 for next year, Fire and Rescue's total proposed 2027 budget was $12,067,606, and Community Development's Fiscal Year 2027 budget was $11,803,437 with an Industrial and Downtown Loan Fund adding $494,000.
A motion to ratify the rest of the budget hearing schedule passed unanimously, as did tentative approval of the budget items discussed.
