Grand Island City Council Study Session on FY2026 Budget - July 15, 2025

This is a summary of the Grand Island City Council study session held on July 15, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The session focused on reviewing proposed budgets for FY2026, including the Mayor, City Council, Administration, Legal, City Hall, and Clerk budgets; the Human Resources budget; and the Fire & Ambulance budget. No formal votes were taken; the session was for discussion and guidance.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Dave Janda, a 50-year resident of Grand Island, expressed concern about rising property taxes and questioned efficiency in city spending. He cited examples of multiple emergency vehicles responding to a deceased person and a ladder truck idling in a parking lot, asking where cuts are being made. He noted that some citizens cannot pay property taxes while the city spends $2.4 million on a fire truck.

Discussion Items

FY2026 Mayor, City Council, Administration, Legal, City Hall, and Clerk Budget Proposal

• City Administrator's Office: Total operating expenses decrease of 18.7% ($25,000) due to a reduction in contract services for strategic planning. Personnel expenses decrease 26% due to reallocation of the assistant city administrator position (70% finance, 30% administration).
• Mayor and City Council Compensation: No change proposed, but Councilmember Mike advocated for increasing elected officials' pay, noting the last raise was in 2014 and the council is about $3,000 behind comparables. City Attorney Kerry Fisk explained that any pay increase can be voted on but cannot take effect until after the next election (December 2026 at the earliest). Councilmember Mark Stelk requested comparison data from other Class I cities; Human Resources already compiled data showing market rate at $10,390 vs. current $7,800. Councilmember Sheeran suggested acting in the next six months to have the ordinance ready before the next budget. Councilmembers generally expressed interest in exploring a raise.
• Travel and Training: Proposed reduction from $10,000 to $7,000 based on low historical spending (about $2,000 this year). Some council members encouraged attending national conferences.
• Legal Department: Personnel expense increase of 5% at current staffing; an additional FTE request (full cost $207,838, a 43% increase) was discussed. City Attorney Fisk cited increased workload from GIPD traffic citations (nearly doubled since 2021, expected ~4,800 citations this year vs. 2,100), population growth, and development contracts. Councilmember Sheeran questioned the need for a full-time attorney without supporting data, suggesting a contract attorney instead. Councilmember Nickerson supported increased enforcement but wanted data. City Administrator Laura McAloon suggested implementing time tracking for the legal team to quantify workload and costs. Chief Denny noted traffic stops up 86%, accidents down 11%. It was noted that ticket revenue does not directly fund legal department costs. The council did not approve the FTE request, with guidance to gather data first.
• City Clerk's Office: Personnel up 7.4% (step increases); operating expenses down 56.3% due to no election this year.
• City Hall: Personnel down 11.9% due to health insurance adjustments; operating expenses down 2.7% ($6,800).

FY2026 Human Resource Budget Proposal

• HR Director Schmidt: Personnel services decrease of 3.73% due to a recruiter not taking insurance; no FTE requests. A retiring HR specialist will not be replaced. Operating expenses increase 6.61% (~$12,000) for office supplies, toner, and costs related to IAFF labor negotiations next year. Overall budget decrease of 1.27% (~$11,000). No capital projects.

FY2026 Fire & Ambulance Budget Proposal

• Fire Chief: Presented a budget with a 3.7% increase in fire personnel costs, including an additional $100,000 for overtime (partly reimbursed via USAR Task Force deployments, $50,000 spent year-to-date). Ambulance personnel costs decrease 1.5% due to staff turnover. Clothing allowance was omitted last year, so a large increase restores contract obligations.
• Operating Expenses: 10% increase allowed by CFO. Major drivers: new software (First Due, ~$25,000), fiber internet for three stations (Allo Fiber, $4,140/year each), air pack flow testing, vehicle repairs, paramedic training ($ for one additional student), and utilities increase for new Station 3.
• Capital Projects:
  • Fire Station 3: $1.9 million remaining from previous allocation. Construction near completion; punch list walkthrough August 12; move-in expected late summer/fall.
  • Thermal imagers: $30,000 to replace aging units on engines and add to ambulances.
  • Dive and water rescue: $50,000 for training and equipment for 6-8 public safety divers. A $5,000 grant from St. Francis Foundation received.
  • Rope rescue equipment: $205,000 (hoping for grant; full cost if no grant). Equipment from 2004 is outdated per NFPA.
  • Staff vehicle: $65,000 estimated for a Ford Explorer with radio and lights (state bid ~$40,000, radio $10,000).
  • Ambulance: Ordered in August 2024 (replacing 2009 model); may not arrive until FY2027 but budget includes funding if it arrives.
  • Cardiac monitors: Replace up to 7 monitors (manufacturer will stop servicing current ones after Dec 31, 2025). Cost not specified; council to decide on brand.
  • Lucas devices: Replace 2 units (free from Helmsley grant in 2015; no longer supported).
• Councilmember Nickerson commended the chief's annual report and the third ambulance staffing, which has reduced recalls and workloads, though overtime remains an issue.
• Councilmember Corey noted the budget appears lean and praised the planning.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken; the session was informational.
• The council expressed interest in exploring a pay raise for elected officials, with guidance to draft an ordinance in the next six months (effective December 2026).
• The legal department FTE request was not approved; the council directed the city administrator to implement time tracking for legal staff to gather data on workload distribution before reconsideration.
• The fire department's capital requests were discussed with general support, though funding decisions will be made during formal budget adoption.
• The public comment from Dave Janda was acknowledged but not formally responded to.
• The next step is the formal budget adoption process, likely in subsequent meetings.