CHENEY – The City Council approved on first readiung a proposed $81.5 million budget for 2025 and tackled a packed agenda during its Nov. 12 meeting.
Council members were scheduled to discuss the budget again Nov. 26; due to the Thanksgiving holiday, the newspaper went to press before meeting time.
The budget largely reflects funding for projects, including the purple pipe initiative and pool construction, according to City Finance Director Cindy Niemeier.
In addition to budget discussions, the city is set to raise its utility rates 6% in January.
The council unanimously approved the 6% hike for electric, water, garbage, and sewer services, effective Jan. 1.
The increase will appear on January billings.
Niemeier explained, “We are trying to bring [rates] back up to where the cost of living would be in order to run our utilities,” Niemeier said.
“These changes are necessary to keep up with inflation and maintain enterprise fund stability to cover expenses,” Councilman Paul Schmidt added,
The rate adjustment aligns with recommendations from a recent financial study.
In other business, the council tentatively gave a thumbs up to revisions of the city’s small fowl ordinance, scheduling a final vote for Dec. 10.
The proposed changes will allow residents to keep up to six small fowl — such as chickens, hens, ducks and turkeys — on 10,000-square-foot lots, with an additional bird permitted for every extra 1,000 square feet of property, capped at 20.
Geese and roosters will remain prohibited.
If approved, the updated ordinance will take effect 30 days after its passage.
The council also authorized a contract with Lincoln County to manage police data entry, ensuring compliance with state law under the Interlocal Cooperation Act.
The agreement, which will cost the city $50,000 annually with a 3% yearly increase through 2028, tasks county officials with entering critical law enforcement data, including warrants and court orders, into the state’s Access System Entry Services.
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