Auburn City Council approved budget changes Thursday that draw on reserves to cover prior-year expenses and firefighter staffing while shifting money to address higher electricity costs and additional parking kiosks.
The two resolutions address separate fiscal years. Council approved the 2025–26 year-end adjustments 5-0 and the 2026–27 amendments 4-0 after Councilor Terrence Cuddy left the meeting.
The votes followed the council’s review of the proposed spending changes ahead of Thursday’s meeting, which identified staffing, utility costs and parking equipment as the main drivers.
Prior-year adjustments use about $622,000 in general fund reserves
The 2025–26 general fund schedule includes $621,997.82 from fund balance, along with transfers among expense accounts.
Comptroller Mary Beth Leeson said the adjustments are part of closing the fiscal year under governmental accounting rules. The city reviews transactions through Aug. 31 to identify expenses attributable to the previous year, then reconciles the accounts.
Much of the additional budgeting involved payroll accruals, she said. The schedules also include retirement, utility, insurance and debt-related adjustments, with separate changes for water, sewer, refuse and power utility operations.
Councilor Craig Diego credited earlier spending and hiring freezes with approximately $835,000 in savings that reduced the amount needed from reserves.
Without those steps, he said, the fund balance contribution would have been closer to $1.5 million.
Fire staffing amendments draw on reserves
The current-year changes include $216,799.47 from general fund reserves for staffing and related costs associated with reaching and maintaining 65 firefighters.
The staff memorandum says two additional firefighters have been hired to reach that level, while another hire replaces a retiring firefighter.
The allocation includes $98,346 in salaries, $69,360 in health insurance, $23,720 in training and additional money for equipment, supplies, services, Social Security and Kelly time.
The parking changes shift $19,217.53 in salary savings from retired staff into supplies, services and fees to support four additional kiosks.
Higher electricity costs require adjustments across departments
Council also increased electricity budgets using contingency money, transfers from other accounts and reserves in utility funds.
The water fund schedule uses $94,125 from fund balance, the sewer fund $51,750 and the power utility fund $9,475.
General fund changes include $13,500 for Fire Department electricity, $12,750 for parking operations and a $20,250 transfer to enterprise recreation for electricity costs, along with adjustments for other city facilities and operations.
Electricity pricing has been a recurring concern. Council delayed a proposed supply agreement in September while seeking a clearer comparison of fixed and variable rates and their budget effects.
Diego said Thursday that the city should adjust its accounts as costs become clear rather than wait until the final months of the budget year.
Haines said that approach aligns with recommendations officials heard during a recent state comptroller’s office training. Both approved resolutions take effect immediately.
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