Pocatello council holds hearing on FY2026 budget amendments; $2.3M state hazmat grant highlighted

Pocatello Mayor Mark Dulquist and the City Council heard staff presentations and public comment June 4 on proposed amendments to the fiscal year 2026 budget that reflect new grant funding, donations and the use of reserves.

City Finance staff said the largest single amendment is a $2.3 million state grant intended for the fire department’s hazmat team to purchase two vehicles and specialized instruments to identify unknown chemicals and monitor air quality during incidents. Fire Department representative Shane Gro described the purchase as vehicles plus upgraded sensors and instrumentation to support regional hazmat coverage for southeastern Idaho.

Council members also heard that sanitation will record a planned fleet replacement—funds collected in prior years’ fees are being drawn from fund balance to purchase three or four trucks—and that the water utility plans to pay off a Series 215 bond from reserves to save interest costs. Staff said golf capital funds will be used to finish a clubhouse project.

During public comment, Heather Dilkun testified uncommitted and urged transparency, saying portions of Amendment No. 2 (listed at approximately $32,51 in the packet) appeared to reflect expenditures or commitments made before the council had formally approved them. Dilkun said those prior assurances were inherited by the current council and stressed that the public should understand that the legislative body holds the purse strings and that future out-of-budget commitments should come before the council first.

Council members asked clarifying questions about the grant source, whether the hazmat funds require a match (staff said the hazmat award is a complete pass-through from the state with no local match), and the sanitation capital schedule. There was no roll-call vote associated with the public hearing; the ordinance to amend appropriations (Ordinance 15A) was read and placed on final passage later in the meeting.

The council’s action on final appropriation adjustments was presented later in the meeting with the mayor and clerk reading the ordinance and a recorded vote placing the amendment into effect for the fiscal year 2026 appropriation ordinance. The ordinance summary in the packet lists increased expenditures across multiple funds funded by grants, unexpected revenue and previously unappropriated cash balances.

The council did not adopt additional policy changes at the hearing; staff and the council framed the amendments as accounting steps required to recognize incoming grant revenues and cover unplanned expenses.

The council adjourned following remaining agenda items; the appropriation changes take effect upon passage and publication as required by law.