City Council Meeting 2025-11-17: 2026 Budget Review

The City Council convened to review and discuss the 2026 proposed budget for Public Works, General Fund, and Enterprise funds. Presenters provided detailed breakdowns of line items, explaining adjustments driven by contractual obligations, bond repayments, inflation, and strategic staffing changes. A significant portion of the discussion focused on justifying increases in the Parks and Recreation division based on consultant studies and addressing community concerns regarding refuse rate hikes.

Consent Calendar

• No routine consent calendar items were presented or voted upon during this session.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Council Member (unnamed in transcript): Expressed concern regarding the impact of refuse rate increases on single-person households and senior citizens who may struggle with the rising costs. Asked if a "pay-per-bag" system could be considered.
• City Official (Refuse Department): Stated that transitioning to a per-bag pricing system would likely result in increased illegal dumping and litter, citing that many other municipalities that have implemented such systems have faced this exact issue. Clarified that flat-rate billing ensures revenue stability for comprehensive services.
• Council Member (unnamed in transcript): Noted the difficulty of comparing Erie's costs to smaller neighboring communities (e.g., Fairview, Millcreek), acknowledging that residents of those areas often moved out of Erie.

Discussion Items

• Wastewater Treatment & Sewer (Department 771/772):

  • Project Description: The department presented a five-year capital plan projected to cost $34 to $35 million for improvements at the wastewater treatment plant. To fund the associated bond issue, a five-year revenue ordinance was passed the prior year to adjust rates.
  • Speaker Position: The department confirmed the necessity of the rate structure to cover increased debt service and maintenance. It was noted that the tiering system (offering discounts for high usage of over 10,000 CCFs) was discontinued the previous year, which effectively cut the rate increase in half and smoothed rates for residents.
  • Comparison: The sewer rate of $13.50 per CCF was compared to neighboring cities, with one neighbor (Leslie) noted at $9.85.

• General Fund - Traffic Engineering (Department 709):

  • Project Description: Repairs and maintenance costs doubled from $20,000 in 2024 to $40,000 in 2026.
  • Speaker Position: Councilor Nelson and the department confirmed this increase is due to the repair of traffic signals and city-owned lighting, noting an increase in the number of lights.
  • Project Description: Casual labor includes a part-time engineer working 25 hours/week with no benefits. Total FTE is 70.5.

• General Fund - Bureau of Streets:

  • Project Description: "Other services and charges" budget included $318 in 2024 attributed to leftover Snow Mageddon bills.
  • Speaker Position: The Council noted that the city typically does not budget for extreme snowstorms and relies on transfers from other funds or the contingency fund when such events occur.
  • Discussion: A question was raised regarding the maintenance of police-installed cameras. It was clarified that a 10-year contract covers maintenance for body cams, tasers, and digital storage cameras, but no specific funds were allocated in the Public Works budget for additional camera maintenance if the contract does not cover them.

• Municipal Garage (Department 727):

  • Project Description: Towage rates for the 250-pound tier have remained stagnant at $125 since 2013, while the 100-pound tier remains at $100.
  • Speaker Position: Council members noted that 2013 rates in the book appeared to be $1.25 or similar, suggesting a possible typo if the rates haven't changed since 2013. They expressed support for reviewing and potentially increasing these rates to reflect inflation.

• Bureau of Parks and Recreation:

  • Project Description: The department is requesting an increase of 3 FTEs, moving from 12 to 15. A consultant study (Ballard King) determined the city's FTE equivalent should be 13.9 based on comparisons with cities of similar population (50,000–100,000), which aligns with the median national service standard (70th-74th percentile).
  • Speaker Position (Department): Argued that the current staff of 7 full-time teamsters (plus seasonal) has been "cannibalized" and cut drastically since 2004, leading to a need to shore up the park system for the implementation of a new Recreational Parks and Open Spaces (RPBS) plan expected in early 2026.
  • Speaker Position (Council): Expressed skepticism about out-of-town consultants recommending hiring based on limited city knowledge. However, the Council acknowledged the department's plan to hire staff now to be ready for the 2026 implementation.
  • Specific Projects: Discussions regarding Roger Young Park revealed no specific project plans yet, but the park is included in the study. Council members suggested including the Erie Housing Authority (residents of Franklin Terrace) in planning to ensure activities meet the needs of those living within walking distance. Data from previous surveys involving West Bay Friends and middle schools is expected to be integrated.
  • Clarification: It was confirmed that new park employees will not be tasked with mowing yards related to "quality of life" tickets; this remains a function of the Redevelopment Authority.

• Stormwater Fund:

  • Project Description: The fund is in its fourth year of the stormwater fee (passed late 2022). A $400,000 line item for a street sweeper in 2025 was a one-time purchase, causing a drop in the 2026 budget projection for equipment.
  • Speaker Position: The department explained the need to balance line items based on actual spending data over previous years. They highlighted the need for consultant services to manage MS4 permit compliance (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) and sediment reduction goals (PRP) for streams like Mill Creek and Garrison Run.

• Refuse and Recycling:

  • Project Description: Refuse rates are proposed to increase from $80.73 to $93.05 per quarter for 2026. Compactor replacement costs increased by approximately $25,000 per unit, totaling a $50,000 increase in the budget.
  • Speaker Position: The department argued that the increase is necessary to cover rising expenses and contractual staffing increases. They defended against the suggestion of a per-bag fee, noting it could lead to illegal dumping and that current rates include recycling, compost, and large item pickup.
  • Speaker Position: Council members expressed empathy for residents on fixed incomes but were informed that a study would be extensive and that flat-rate billing prevents waste dumping.

• Golf Course:

  • Project Description: The 2026 budget remains unchanged from the previous year pending the finalization of a contract with the Zoo, which appears to involve a lease-back arrangement where the city continues to run the course.
  • Speaker Position: A Council member noted the lack of final drawings regarding the hole configurations (specifically holes 4 and 5) and suggested the study on the course's future may not yet exist, warranting budget caution.

Key Outcomes

• Budget Review Continued: The session served as a review/dissemination of budget details rather than a final vote on individual line items, except for the approval of the overall budget agenda.
• Towing Rate Review Authorized: Council instructed staff to look into increasing municipal garage towing fees, which have been stagnant since 2013.
• Stormwater Budget Clarified: It was confirmed that the $400,000 expense for the street sweeper was a one-time 2025 event and not a recurring 2026 line item; staff were directed to verify specific year-to-date spending figures.
• Parks Staffing Justification Accepted (In Principle): The department's plan to hire 3 FTEs to align with consultant recommendations and prepare for the 2026 RPBS implementation was discussed and noted, with Council expressing mixed views on the consultant methodology but accepting the operational need.
• Refuse Pricing Strategy Confirmed: The City Council maintained its policy of flat-rate refuse pricing to prevent illegal dumping, despite community concerns over the cost increase for low-volume users.