Yerington outlines FY2026–27 budget with modest revenue gains, utilities focus

Yerington’s interim city manager presented the proposed FY2026–27 final budget on May 26, showing combined available General Fund resources of about $4.77 million and a property tax rate set at $0.4044. Interim City Manager Jerry Bryant said the budget reflects an assessed property valuation of $172,222,473 and a property tax revenue estimate of $598,818, up $13,197 from the prior year.

The budget packages a 2.5% salary/wage increase for most employees and accounts for Public Employees' Retirement System contribution rates (listed at 36.75% city‑side and 58.75% for police in the draft materials). Bryant said the draft also anticipates consolidated tax revenue of $944,163 and combined General Fund revenues of roughly $4.31 million, with total proposed expenditures across functions of about $3.97 million before contingency.

Utility enterprise funds show divergent positions in the materials distributed to the council: the water utility is budgeted with positive net income (listed as $437,839 in Schedule A-2) while the sewer fund is shown with a budgeted net loss (($174,643)). The staff packet states the California Well project’s completion should reduce capital spending in the year ahead and that hearings on water and sewer rates will be scheduled to test fee adequacy and support capital needs.

The budget message lists capital priorities and estimates, including FAA taxiway and AWOS projects for the airport, a tennis court park project, phone system upgrades, lift station work and other public‑works items. The packet also notes a proposed modest increase to administrative and startup fees in several service lines and seeks federal appropriations to offset capital needs.

Bryant told the council the tentative budget had been discussed at publicly noticed budget workshops on March 24 and May 18 and that the tentative budget had been previously heard in public. The council did not vote on final adoption at the May 26 meeting; the item remained on the schedule for a subsequent public hearing. The city will hold follow‑up rate hearings for water and sewer and will provide more detail on any proposed rate changes before formal action.

The city clerk and staff materials list multiple schedules and exhibit tables for revenues, expenditures, debt service (USDA loans for water and sewer are listed), and capital outlays; interested residents were directed to the city manager’s office and the city website for the full packet.