Idaho Falls council approves tentative $393,483,954 FY2026-27 budget and sets public hearing

The Idaho Falls City Council voted to approve a tentative, not-to-exceed budget of $393,483,954 for fiscal year 2026-27 and authorized publication of the public-hearing notice. Municipal Services Director Pam Alexander outlined the timeline for adoption and urged the public to review the budget book, which the city will post online ahead of an Aug. 13 public hearing.

Director Alexander said the amount "includes rates and fees for services, state and federal grant revenue," and described a 3% statutory property tax levy with foregone amounts earmarked for public safety and one-time fire and parks capital projects. Council members discussed the composition of the budget and noted enterprise funds (utilities, sanitation and the airport) account for a large share of the total spending authority. A motion to approve the tentative budget and publish the notice passed unanimously.

Why it matters: the tentative budget sets a legal spending ceiling for the coming fiscal year; it does not represent cash in hand but is the authority under which departments may spend once adopted later in the process.