Lowell City reviews conservative interim budget with 5% COLA, staff and infrastructure concerns

Lowell City’s interim manager presented a conservative budget packet Monday that trims projected revenues while proposing a 5% across‑the‑board cost‑of‑living adjustment and a 5% increase in water and sewer rates.

"You've been presented a balanced budget for the city of Lowell," Interim Manager Ben Blackburn said, calling the plan a "barebones budget" that reduces the general fund by about 14–15% compared with the current year and decreases the water and sewer fund roughly 15%.

The manager told the council the draft includes a modest capital outlay package—note of a new police vehicle—and an additional recreation department employee. He said staff built revenue estimates conservatively and left room for an incoming permanent manager to propose amendments.

Why it matters: Council members and public commenters focused on tradeoffs among employee pay, core services and event funding as the city prepares for growth. Council discussion ranged from staffing levels in recreation and police to alleged water losses and the cost of running the recycling program.

Council discussion and public input highlighted: a) employee pay equity versus percentage raises—one speaker urged dividing the total raise pool equally across 30 employees rather than a uniform percentage; b) infrastructure concerns, including a cited claim that the city has been losing about 4 million gallons of water a month; and c) operating costs such as a recycling center budgeted at roughly $28,000 and the city’s practice of frequent budget amendments when needs arise.

Council set a public hearing on the budget for the June 9 regular meeting at 7:00 p.m. Blackburn emphasized that while funds exist in reserves, the draft avoids drawing deeply on fund balance and is intended to provide a stable baseline until a permanent manager is in place.

What’s next: The budget remains subject to public comment and later council amendment. Council members signaled interest in further review of staffing, procurement for capital projects and options to reduce recurring costs such as recycling center hours.

Attribution: Quotes and reported figures above are taken from remarks by Interim Manager Ben Blackburn and council exchanges during the Lowell City meeting.