2026/8/11 - City Council Final Budget Workshop and Public Hearing

The City of Caldwell held a special City Council meeting on August 11, 2026, focused primarily on the final budget workshop and public hearing for fiscal year 2027. Key procurement-related discussions included proposed fee changes across multiple departments such as public works, community development, fire, and parks and recreation, with particular attention to utility capacity and connection fees. The council reviewed a 1% foregone revenue increase of $343,263 for public safety operations and discussed the fiscal year 2027 budget totaling $171 million in revenue and $199 million in expenses, including $71 million in capital projects primarily for sewer, fire, streets, water, and parks. The meeting also addressed a significant procurement and policy issue regarding the Highway 44 county property connection fees, where the county requested waivers of water and sewer connection fees estimated at approximately $2 million each. City staff presented alternative sewer line alignments and discussed potential agreements for fee deferral or collection tied to annexation or use. The council approved the resolution to seek foregone revenue and adopted the fiscal year 2027 budget, with further discussions on the Highway 44 property connection fees planned for the next meeting.