2026/7/15 - City Council Budget Workshop

The City of Caldwell held a City Council Budget Workshop on July 15, 2026, focusing primarily on fee structures and budget allocations for fiscal year 2027. The acting finance director presented an overview of the city's revenue sources, highlighting that fees constitute approximately $88.5 million of the $162 million budget, with significant discussions on enterprise fund fees related to water, sewer, sanitation, and golf operations. The council reviewed proposed fee increases, particularly for water and sewer services, which included a cost of service analysis aimed at aligning fees with actual usage, impacting new developments and commercial users the most. Sanitation fees under contract with Republic Services were proposed to increase by about 4.2%, while golf fees aimed to maintain affordability with minor adjustments. The workshop also covered governmental fund fees, including building permits, fire prevention, police services, and parks and recreation, with some departments proposing fee increases to better reflect service costs. The council discussed budget scenarios involving staffing, including police and fire positions, wage increases, and potential impacts of external factors such as Valley Regional Transit funding. Action items included updating budget spreadsheets, further analysis of fee impacts, and scheduling follow-up meetings to finalize budget decisions. No formal votes were recorded during this session, but the council emphasized the need for consensus on budget direction before public release.