City Council Workshop Narrows Budget Deficit; More Changes Ahead

July 24, 2025

by Suzanne Bellsnyder

The Spearman City Council held a three-hour budget workshop Tuesday morning to tackle the projected $569,721 deficit in the proposed FY 2025-26 city budget. After a detailed line-item review, council members approved a combination of revenue adjustments and spending cuts, reducing the shortfall by roughly $310,000.

Budget Cuts Totaling $168,000
The council trimmed several proposed expenses from the budget, including:

Police vehicle replacement – $75,000

Fire department equipment – $53,500

City dumpsters – $15,000

Sealcoat engineering fees – $5,000

Gas maintenance – $10,000

Sewer maintenance – $15,000

There was also discussion about a possible $10,000 cut from police academy training costs, though it remained unclear whether that reduction was finalized.

Revenue Increases Totaling $142,000
The council also opted to increase projected revenues in several areas:

$25,000 from Hansford County’s commitment to fire support

$35,000 increase in estimated sewer charges

$82,000 increase in estimated water charges

These figures reflect higher revenue projections compared to the original budget proposal. While helpful in narrowing the deficit, the strategy does raise concerns. Budgeting based on optimistic revenue estimates could lead to shortfalls if actual collections fall below projections—a common occurrence in municipal finance. The City Manager had initially taken a more conservative approach to forecasting enterprise revenues.

Big-Ticket Items Remain
Two major projects were left in the budget:

Splash Pad – $150,000, funded by the City

Airport Project – $235,200 (previously misstated as $250,000)

Discussion continues over whether to fund the airport match from the city’s cash reserves or seek financing.

Revised Budget Coming Soon
After these changes, the deficit now sits around $259,000 by unofficial estimates. The City Manager is expected to present a revised version of the budget incorporating these updates. Another budget workshop is scheduled for Tuesday at 7:00 a.m. at City Hall.

The Hansford County Reporter-Statesman will continue tracking the process as part of our Truth in Taxation series.

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