HOOD RIVER — Hood River City Council again began with a moment of silence for a former government official: Steve Wheeler, who served as city manager from 2014-2018, passed away at the end of May.
After public comment and a presentation by the Somos Inmigrantes (We are Immigrants) steering committee (full story to appear in an upcoming edition), Mayor Paul Blackburn opened a public hearing for the fiscal year (FY) 2025-2026 city budget adoption, presented by Finance Director Chris Longinetti.
No one came forward to provide public testimony — verbal or written — and, following council discussion, the motion to pass “Resolutions 2025-12 and 2025-13, adopting the budget for FY2025-26, imposing and categorizing tax levies, and electing to receive State Shared Revenue,” as moved by Council Chair Gladys Rivera, was unanimously passed.
“The approved budget uses state shared revenue as a general fund revenue source supporting police, fire, EMS, parks, engineering and planning programs,” Blackburn said.
The budget committee held three meetings, Longinetti said, and the proposed budget was approved by that committee as presented at its third meeting on May 21. The total adopted budget of $63,929,818 includes roughly $52 million in all fund appropriations and almost $12 million in unappropriated and reserved funds.
“Major projects and initiatives planned for the fiscal year include funds for a five-year information technology plan, utility rate study, and IT equipment replacements,” Longinetti said. “The general fund also includes a transfer to the building fund and a loan to the Urban Renewal Area in support of the promotion of housing production.
“Public works budgets include funds for continued improvements on critical water, wastewater, and storm line replacements, as well as road repair,” he continued, with larger projects including the replacement of the May Street elevated sidewalk and numerous stormwater line and pipe replacements town-wide.
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