City Council Budget Work Session 10/27/2029

The City of Seward City Council held a budget work session on October 27, 2026, to review the proposed FY 2027–28 departmental budgets. Procurement and spending items included a proposed $20,000 per year for emergency-preparedness contracted services in FY 2027 and FY 2028, including tabletop exercises and possible consultant support. The city reported about $432,000 in general-fund software and SaaS subscriptions and nearly $1 million in contracted services across departments. The council had approved a fleet assessment and replacement plan with Mercury Associates in August; after the firm’s October site work, the city proposed no motor-pool vehicle or equipment purchases in the FY 2027–28 budget pending the assessment’s recommendations. Fire hoses for two engines are planned through the capital improvement plan, and the Fire Department expects to issue an RFP for inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire alarms and sprinkler systems. The city’s audit-firm contract ends in 2027, with an RFP planned for early next year; any resulting cost adjustment would affect the FY 2028 budget. No final vote on the proposed budget was taken at this session.

Other budget topics included a proposed temporary records technician to support document scanning and a Laserfiche project, a water and wastewater rate study underway, and discussion of seasonal sales-tax and property-tax options, including possible exemptions under state House Bill 13. The city also noted that its water-tank project with T Bailey was nearing completion. A previously sponsored resolution allocating $12,000 for student-exchange airfare was already incorporated into the budget. The council’s budget and tax discussions were preliminary, with hearings and final budget action scheduled for later meetings.