RIVER FALLS — Prior to the Oct. 8 River Falls City Council meeting, council members attended a workshop regarding the proposed 2025-26 budget.

During the workshop, there was a presentation that showcased some of the notable budget items for the coming two years. These include added police patrol personnel, $100,000 added over the next two years for elections, added conservation and park personnel, 4% wage increases and 12% city healthcare renewal in the people category and $250,000 per year for Emerald Ash Borer treatment and tree removal, $10 million for a fire station remodel, $4-7 million for a library project and $3 million for Kinni Corridor.

City Administrator Scot Simpson said River Falls’ growth has been beneficial, but the budget process is “anti-climactic” because increases to expenses keep the city to a handful of projects and ideas.

“Even with the great growth we have, we don’t have a million dollars to just come up with ideas for things,” Simpson said.

The budget’s gross levy increase under the adopted fiscal plan is 5% for 2025 and 2026, with the proposed budget changing the numbers to 6% for 2025 and 5% for 2026. The net levy increase is 4% for 2025 and 2026 as the fiscal plan sets the cap at 4%.

The city is currently running at a deficit for electric, water and sewer utilities. Operating revenues are exceeding operating expenses in the three, but capital expenses have created the loss. Rates for electric, water and solid waste are seeing increases to reach the city’s benchmark rate of return.

The first reading of the budget will take place Oct. 22.

Other business

During the regular council meeting after the budget discussions, a Purchase Agreement with Kristin D. Nelson for 0.26 acres at East Division Street and Second Street was approved for Capital Improvement Projects.

There was a brief public comment portion that featured Alderperson Nick Carow discussing the city council and competition for seats.

“When you look across this table, we have an average tenure of about 8.6 years,” Carow said. “When we look in the longer pattern, we see that we oftentimes are struggling to fill people to serve and commit on local boards and for some of the other positions that we need throughout the city.”

Carow said the city is in need of new voices and new ideas to keep up with the changes it is constantly undergoing.

“We need this table to have rotating voices,” Carow said. “It is not to impugn the motives or the work that my colleagues do. They do really good work and I’m proud to be a part of this group, but we need different voices to come out and run for office. We need people who want to participate in this thing in a different capacity.”

Carow said some of the “healthiest boards” put term limits in place, and people who attend the meetings frequently or have an interest should run for a seat.

Rebecca Ferguson of the library board spoke on the governor’s appearance at the library for the $4 million grant they received. Ferguson said people at the library thought River Falls was the only library Gov. Tony Evers attended because they got the biggest grant, but it was actually due to the investment the city made into the 35,000 square foot library decades ago.

“Could we do with a smaller building? It would be easier, but it wouldn’t be as effective,” Ferguson said.