FY 2026 Budget
The city council passed the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2026, which begins October 1st. (City budget fiscal years run from October to September.) It's a good budget, and I think the council and mayor are doing a good job keeping track of how our taxes and other public monies are being used.
As normally happens, some fees were adjusted. (Of course, most of the time that means they went up when the government and businesses are talking.) The city has to hold public hearings for any fee increases above 5%. We only had one fee increase above 5% and it went up because of the increased cost of postage at the post office: the Paper Utility Statement fee went up to $1.09.
The utility fee increases are listed below and compared with the fees from last year (or currently until October). Costs for maintenance, repairs, and capital projects demand that we increase fees each year to keep up with inflation and rising costs, overall.
None of us like utility fees to increase; however, it's unwise for a city to not keep up with what it costs to maintain our current systems and plan for needed upgrades and emergencies. We have attached our utility fee increases to the Consumer Price Index, which measures inflation. This year it was 2.4%. (Every time I go shopping and I see my receipt, I'm not sure that number is accurate, but there you go.)
Someone online wondered why we always work out the budget right as school is starting with all of the activities and busyness that go along with that. It seems the city is trying to make it so residents can't be informed or attend council meetings regarding the budget because of this timing.
The budget timing it mandated by state law. The city has to wait for the various state and county entities to give us their inputs and estimates for the upcoming fiscal year before we can complete the city's budget. Then we have to have the budget completed in August by law.
And as the budget year doesn't follow the standard calendar year, it may see like bad timing, but it's simply how the system has to be worked. As such, the budget process is lengthy. We have been working on it for months in our regular council meetings and during a special public work meeting as well. We do our best to be as open as we can be in the process, and certainly residents can attend any of the meetings and public hearings to hear the council, the mayor, and city staff hash out the priorities and concerns for each year's budget. It's pretty complex even for a relatively small town like Sugar, and it would be worth it for every resident, if possible, to be more aware of how it all works.
Alcohol Ordinance
The council is considering a revision to our current code regarding alcohol sales. Businesses can already sell beer in Sugar City. The original version of the current city code regarding the sale of alcohol goes back to 1947, and it has been amended numerous times over the years, most recently in 2021.
What is being considered now is allowing alcohol sales in specific commercial businesses, namely restaurants. The sales would only be allowed in regional commercial zoning--next to the highway interchanges. None of the other zoning within the city would allow for such sales. And, of course, the establishments would have to apply for, qualify for, and be granted a state license. Sugar City would probably be authorized to have one or maybe two such licenses at our current population and development.
The benefits of revising this ordinance includes managing the quality and purposes of any growth we are experiencing now and in the future. I know some residents are against growth in the city in general and would view this revision as simply inviting more growth. I don't know that allowing for two licenses in our city would bring more growth, but I do believe it will shape the type of growth we are going to get regardless.
It will be one tool in the city's kit to manage and even encourage a certain type of growth that I think would be much more beneficial to our city than what we might get otherwise.
For example, I would much, much rather see a well planned mixed-use style development (residential, commercial, entertainment, retail, etc.) along our interchanges than I would simply see more housing without the benefits that come from the other categories of development. Frankly, the city and the school district can't simply absorb growth that is strictly residential and maintain the quality of services we want and expect for our school kids and residents.
As private property owners choose to develop their properties, we would be much better off having good ways of managing that development and working with the property owners to create much more likeable and beneficial additions to our city.
I would hate to see the Sugar-Salem area get reduced to a housing community that simply feeds Rexburg's growth. This revised ordinance is an opportunity for us. It's limited and well-suited for the type of growth that will serve us well as residents and give the city a greater ability to keep Sugar a place we are proud of well into the future.
Residents can read the proposed ordinance at City Hall if they would like to take a look.
I hope everyone has had a wonderful summer. I like to see all the kids back in action in their schools and activities!