Council hears budget preview: GEMT revenue, impact-fee shortfalls and prioritized requests leave council about $210,000 short
July 06, 2026 | Idaho Falls, Bonneville County, Idaho
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Finance staff presented a broad preview of the 2026–27 budget and the process used to balance the general fund.
Staff said the city recently received $1.4 million in GEMT (ground emergency medical transport) reimbursements and projects roughly $2.8 million to arrive in the next fiscal year as the reimbursement program catches up; the administration proposed using those funds primarily to rebuild the EMS fund balance. Staff also reported a significant decline in impact-fee revenue and building-permit receipts compared with earlier expectations, which reduces available funding for new capital projects.
On revenue assumptions, staff modeled the statutorily-allowed 3% property-tax increase and assumed about $1,000,000 in growth/annexation revenue (with $750,000 of that used to help balance this budget) as one of the primary balancing items. After departments prioritized requests, the list of unfunded prioritized items totaled roughly $1.7 million. Staff estimated available sources (remaining growth, the 1% foregone option and police-complex excess funds) at approximately $1.515 million, leaving a shortfall near $210,000 on the prioritized list.
Department-level highlights included police requests for a county-enterprise records-management and dispatch move (implementation cost and ongoing net impact described by the chief), a proposed pay-scale step removal to improve mid-career retention, and targeted positions such as an opioid detective funded through asset-seizure and opioid-settlement revenues. Fire presented training-officer requests and station remediation needs. Recreation and library raised facility and operating requests and staff said they are reviewing nonresident-fee increases to boost revenue while protecting resident access.
Staff said they will provide a full budget book and the prioritized request packages before the council's scheduled budget meeting and that council can amend or direct changes during the formal adoption process.
Staff said the city recently received $1.4 million in GEMT (ground emergency medical transport) reimbursements and projects roughly $2.8 million to arrive in the next fiscal year as the reimbursement program catches up; the administration proposed using those funds primarily to rebuild the EMS fund balance. Staff also reported a significant decline in impact-fee revenue and building-permit receipts compared with earlier expectations, which reduces available funding for new capital projects.
On revenue assumptions, staff modeled the statutorily-allowed 3% property-tax increase and assumed about $1,000,000 in growth/annexation revenue (with $750,000 of that used to help balance this budget) as one of the primary balancing items. After departments prioritized requests, the list of unfunded prioritized items totaled roughly $1.7 million. Staff estimated available sources (remaining growth, the 1% foregone option and police-complex excess funds) at approximately $1.515 million, leaving a shortfall near $210,000 on the prioritized list.
Department-level highlights included police requests for a county-enterprise records-management and dispatch move (implementation cost and ongoing net impact described by the chief), a proposed pay-scale step removal to improve mid-career retention, and targeted positions such as an opioid detective funded through asset-seizure and opioid-settlement revenues. Fire presented training-officer requests and station remediation needs. Recreation and library raised facility and operating requests and staff said they are reviewing nonresident-fee increases to boost revenue while protecting resident access.
Staff said they will provide a full budget book and the prioritized request packages before the council's scheduled budget meeting and that council can amend or direct changes during the formal adoption process.
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