The Grants Pass City Council last night balanced the current budget, established a new task force and appointed two people to the Committee on Public Art.
The City Council opened its regular meeting with a public hearing on a resolution supplementing the Fiscal Year 2025 budget and making appropriations. Finance Director JC Rowley said some small "normal" adjustments were made to the General Fund, Transportation Fund, Stormwater Fund, Water Fund, Water Projects Fund, Wastewater Fund, Solid Waste Fund, Administrative Services Fund, Environmental Waste Fees Fund and Lands & Buildings Projects Fund.
The Council approved the supplemental budget unanimously. They will consider the Fiscal Year 2026 budget on June 18th. By Oregon Statute, the City must have a balanced budget in place before July 1st.
The Council also approved a resolution that establishes a Non-Bargaining Compensation and Classification Task Force. The new task force will be charged with studying potential salary adjustments for the City's non-union employees and making recommendations. Councilors Rick Ryker and Seth Benham will serve on the task force along with two members of the Grants Pass Budget Committee, two members at-large with experience in large payrolls and McGrath Consulting.
Following multiple votes by the City Council, Cindy Hernandez and Eva Shaw were appointed to the Grants Pass Committee on Public Art.
During the public comment period, two people who live near the NW 5th Street resting site complained about the negative effects of that location. They pleaded with the City Council to provide supervision at the site or move it away.
Council members sympathized with the residents, but said there hands were tied by the state -- specifically by House Bill 3115 which requires "objectively reasonable" treatment of the unhoused population.
