City discusses 2026 budget

The Tea City Council met Oct. 6 and discussed the 2026 budget.

City administrator Justin Weiland presented the proposed 2026 budget. He said the council will review changes to the budget at the Oct. 20 meeting with final approval in November.

He said they do not have a large capital expenditure planned like the 85th Street project, but they have a $1.2 million surplus. He said they could move it to surplus to save for future capital expenditures. They have conservatively estimated a 5 percent increase in sales tax revenue and lowered building permit revenue.

A few highlights included accounting for an assistant finance officer, improvements to government buildings, replacing maintenance equipment, parks and police equipment.

The council asked for more information and more detailed numbers by the Oct. 20 meeting.

They approved a temporary one-day liquor license to WoodGrain Brewing Co. to use at Red Arbor Tattoo on Oct. 11 for a daytime event.

The council approved the pay application from T&R Contracting for the Heritage Parkway surfacing project for $1,142,316.90. HDR engineer Ben Scholtz said this payment is for the bulk of the project with the project basically being done. This payment does not include permanent pavement markings. They will open the road this week, they were just waiting for the concrete to set.

They held a public hearing for the second reading of Ordinance No. 326, an ordinance amending Chapter 11, Sections 1-8 of the zoning regulations for the city of Tea. 

Community development director Albert Schmidt noted some changes include freestanding signs would be scaled to the size of the lot instead of a flat 200 square feet, roof signs only allowed in commercial areas and do not exceed 10 feet above the roof at the base of the sign and allowing digital billboards that only contain messaging for the business it belongs to. The council approved the ordinance.

The council also held a first reading on an ordinance amending Chapter 9, Section 9.03 of the city of Tea on snow removal. The main change is changing the time to clear sidewalks from 24 hours to 48 hours. A second reading is planned for Oct. 20.

They approved the step increase for Weiland from $78.45 to $80.39.