Minot City Council Special Budget Meeting 9/9/26 at 6:00 p.m.

The City of Minot held a special city council budget meeting on September 9, 2026, focused primarily on the 2027 budget. Key procurement-related discussions included approval of the annual alcohol license fee resolution, where the council passed an amendment increasing fees to better offset city costs related to alcohol licensing and enforcement. The council debated the establishment of issuance fees for new off-sale liquor licenses, with some members advocating for fees to cover administrative and regulatory costs, while others opposed additional fees to avoid market barriers. The council also approved a sales tax ordinance amendment to allocate funds for property tax relief. The 2027 budget ordinance was presented and passed on first reading after a public hearing featuring citizen comments on tax increases and city spending. The council authorized the city manager to implement a voluntary separation incentive program to rightsize city staffing and requested further financial modeling on its impact. Overall, the meeting involved detailed budget adjustments, fee restructuring, and discussions on balancing revenue generation with community impact.