[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6640887,"mediaKeyId","2548845-b3d83007007120447cb95655e31a64bf","parentId",2548845,"title","Water Renewal Services outlines $3 billion in assets, advances recycled-water project with pilot results and upcoming contracts","audioSeconds",1515,"startMs",3963000,"endMs",5478000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2548845-b3d83007007120447cb95655e31a64bf&start=3963&end=5478","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2548845-b3d83007007120447cb95655e31a64bf/thumbnail_3963000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6640887/Idaho/Water-Renewal-Services-outlines-3-billion-in-assets-advances-recycled-water-project-with-pilot-results-and-upcoming-contracts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6640887-1564566c00ab4b8fefc1f44647c41786/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447796&Signature=Uhe~h4I5i-pzuaZiEX3vDkyaAsJ~UBHgY406AjrMNDEY5y7QjowoiQdgAQf5HzzXbwcUCTJDjQnBvVXfob05amdSEO3rRbxP1rg5~F2rCqwgE3k06VJRkaZZmxEwVYEmduZiqAHls-r~CxOMKEyy2Jt~iJ1PkCWY7beJNVbcO29A-vm-hnDLW9pWBNWrKBe23Egm264vi9Opw~27QHHT7AsDRG0unPB-EKwJBhbKErwpRl31Utr9eRVA53F~ViFMnjwtg5X~rAMaFsUIV609BlEoXUrI590FZJ3jpnYPxis4gZvxa6YYTWxSdkylEOeYZp8PhOu0bPri9mlYzG82bQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Boise","date","2025-03-11T23:11:32.6Z","article","Deputy Public Works Director Haley Faulkner and Water Renewal staff briefed the Boise City Council on the water-renewal utility’s programs, infrastructure condition, regulatory drivers and next steps for a recycled-water facility the city plans to build in southeast Boise.

Faulkner said water renewal collects and treats about 30,000,000 gallons of wastewater per day and maintains more than 1,000 miles of pipelines and 29 lift stations across five major facilities; she described the system’s replacement value as “over $3,000,000,000 in infrastructure if we were to be replacing that system today.” The two largest treatment sites are Lander Street and West Boise; the city also operates a 4,000‑acre farm (the “20 Mile South Farm”) used for biosolids land application, a phosphorus removal facility, and utilities-maintenance operations for pipelines and pump stations.

Faulkner reviewed completed and planned work at Lander Street (headworks, ultraviolet disinfection upgrades, secondary clarifier construction, safety and access improvements) and at West Boise (UV disinfection, secondary system improvements and future tertiary/phosphorus treatment). She said projects are staged to increase capacity, replace aging assets and meet regulatory obligations while treatment continues during construction.

On recycled water, Faulkner said the city purchased land in southeast Boise for a new recycled-water facility and completed a multi-year pilot that treated more than 5 million gallons and gathered about 40,000 data points to inform permitting, design and community outreach. She said the pilot-survey respondents were largely supportive of reuse and groundwater recharge: “in that kind of the respondents from that 98% shared that they were comfortable with water reuse and groundwater recharge.” Staff described the planned facility as producing purified water for groundwater recharge and industrial reuse and said the city is pursuing the necessary state recycled-water permits.

Faulkner outlined near-term procurement actions council members will see: a guaranteed maximum price amendment (GMPA) for West Boise secondary improvements and a separate GMPA for ultraviolet disinfection (to manage long-lead equipment procurement under the construction-manager/general-contractor method); an amendment for Brown & Caldwell (engineering services) to move into detailed design for recycled water; and a CMGC preconstruction-services contract with PCL as the selected contractor for the recycled-water project.

Council members asked about responsibility for collection-system infrastructure and the status of remaining sewer-district consolidations; staff said the city has been consolidating sewer districts as annexations occurred, that the West Boise sewer district remains under contract and that its contract is due to expire at the end of 2026. Staff also reported efforts to modernize lift stations and use condition-assessment work (including pipeline televising) to prioritize high-risk replacements and reduce claims.

Why it matters: the water‑renewal program is a major capital and operational portfolio for the city, combining regulatory compliance (discharge permits and phosphorus removal), aging‑asset replacement, and an initiative to keep more water local through a recycled‑water facility. Staff emphasized that many construction projects must be executed while facilities remain in operation, and that procurement planning (ordering long‑lead equipment early) is essential to keep project schedules on track.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Boise City Council - Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","Deputy Public Works Director Haley Faulkner and Water Renewal staff reviewed system capacity, aging-infrastructure projects at Lander Street and West Boise, and progress on a recycled-water program (pilot treated 5 million gallons and produced 40,000 data points); staff flagged forthcoming contract amendments and CMGC procurement.","taxTitle","Boise City, Boise, Ada County, Idaho","taxId",8706,"location","Idaho","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6640892,"Finance staff: Boise has balanced outlook for FY2026 but ‘very little budget flexibility’ as personnel, PERSI and insurance costs rise",2726,600000,3326000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2548845-b3d83007007120447cb95655e31a64bf&start=600&end=3326","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2548845-b3d83007007120447cb95655e31a64bf/thumbnail_600000.jpg","/articles/6640892/Idaho/Finance-staff-Boise-has-balanced-outlook-for-FY2026-but-very-little-budget-flexibility-as-personnel-PERSI-and-insurance-costs-rise","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6640892-7fc1c13ce94dad5d5bec765860ea2e48/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447796&Signature=Mpc2HizQuLwWbDfyAQ2t4y1LXn3SpckGsTatGGQ7sc9h0bEOc-PnLQfDTxHuc6ceAi~h8K06Qi1Gcf5g~npRKpfBOgzs02PDB4RxXIFi9yT~KEEdXsp12zsYZ0RE8YS0SkAmHL1STldnevigBMlTxR1b5jvbYr6LrHCGaIFNKp2v50FgG0yVgVpqy5B9oyCr57C-MEIkYHdf4Lkc0oEsA1-LLGldqTJi23t0Dhc7-qspyC15yeEL18ISjeJuhTasQF07NI7QWa6ZKIBIPUkSVoKNsFg23Vf8~K9UEVVHBXK3TilBhxBL18NzsOhijOl5JHYlbmNTLq3qgsK4yUzoKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City finance staff presented a general-fund budget outlook that projects a balanced position entering fiscal year 2026 but warns the city faces constrained flexibility for new investments because personnel costs, retirement (PERSI) contribution-rate increases, software-maintenance growth and rising workers’ compensation/insurance costs are growing faster than general-revenue categories.

Alicia McAndrews, finance presenter, told the council: “The main theme that I hope you take away... is we don't have a deficit, but we have very little budget flexibility.” Eric (finance staff) and McAndrews laid out the forecast assumptions: property-tax forecasting assumes the statutory 3% base levy option but staff built in full new-construction growth and the effects of 2022 state growth-cap legislation (90% for new construction and 80% for expiring urban-renewal districts). They said sales-tax growth is uncertain and modeled at 1% for FY2026, and liquor-tax receipts had shown recent declines.

Staff quantified several specific drivers. Finance said that council decisions to take less than the full 3% property-tax base increases in recent years produced a cumulative base impact of about $5.7 million and cumulative relief on the order of roughly $30 million over multiple years; the 2022 growth-cap changes have a current base impact of about $1.9 million and a cumulative impact of about $4 million. Staff also said typical year-end carry-forward amounts that have been used for one-time initiatives will likely be significantly lower for FY2026 than in recent years.

Personnel is the largest general-fund expenditure category (staff projected about 71% of general-fund operating expenses in FY2026) and staff showed personnel-cost growth has outpaced property-tax growth: a 6.5% compound annual growth rate for personnel versus 3.6% for property taxes over the period shown. Eric said the city has added staff in the current year via interim budget changes — “I believe that it is 3, however. 2 permanent positions within the IT department... and actually, as I'm speaking, I'm gonna add a fourth one” — and that staff would supply an exact count for general-fund positions added off-cycle.

Staff highlighted projected retirement-plan (PERSI) contribution-rate increases. Based on PERSI's messages, the employer contribution-rate could rise to about 13.53% and then to 15.87% in later years; staff estimated that level of increases could add approximately $2.9 million in base cost impact by 2028 on general employees and represent roughly $58 million cumulative over a 10-year horizon if those assumptions held.

Other rising costs noted include software-maintenance and subscription conversions (from on-premises to SaaS) and escalating risk and workers’-compensation claims. Finance said recent experience has required one-time fund transfers to maintain solvency in the city’s risk funds in five of the last eight years and that claims experience, national insurance market shifts, added assets and more employees are contributing to higher projections.

Council members asked for follow-up materials; staff agreed to provide a vacancy report by department that shows unfilled positions with corresponding budgeted salaries and to produce the exact number of general-fund positions added through interim budget changes. Staff also outlined the FY2026 calendar: a May budget workshop (department presentations), release of the budget book in June, a second budget workshop and public hearing on July 15, and adoption in August.

Why it matters: the presentation shows the city is not forecasting a deficit but will have limited room for new, ongoing investments. Rising nondiscretionary costs and past policy choices to provide property-tax relief are constraining options; staff emphasized the need for careful prioritization and said they will continue refining assumptions as the budget process proceeds.","City finance staff presented a general-fund outlook that projects no deficit for FY2026 but warns limited new spending capacity because personnel costs, PERSI (retirement) rate increases, software and risk/insurance costs are outpacing revenue growth and prior property-tax relief.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6640896,"Boise City Council approves nine interim budget changes including Fry Street open-space purchase and airport art",518,60000,578000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2548845-b3d83007007120447cb95655e31a64bf&start=60&end=578","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2548845-b3d83007007120447cb95655e31a64bf/thumbnail_60000.jpg","/articles/6640896/Idaho/Boise-City-Council-approves-nine-interim-budget-changes-including-Fry-Street-open-space-purchase-and-airport-art","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6640896-85e129cf797dc225fd82f02531aa53a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447796&Signature=MXFV9Hv-KsyiO5mU0wk8Wh7TThIktHLaIbG1r~hKD50bcbMs~7Eh3~a5Fy5zLI-jERKq2w1-oybHkO-8xLqHI96z4P6Z9N2-wITCTvqfZmzCVlSJD2mEv-1vguTVwCz3doTFRNiL~lPOcZlXjSDENmycfCbGzx9~iLgaxiT6Hy~O4fzdOojmOaKsSJ~1XLFnoTdJTkHehNc4eS68UrfosGZUROuddlCAJekrhB24L--Qeku8GUmYNgSf~3apmfiJuaFYEll0n7u7ObkcCC61W3nSsNLkMX7TJej2JDGNVBbhTMMI8Oc74C1S~OU4LY1bblq76ArMJdsRwXugGFjA7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Boise City Council voted to approve nine interim budget changes proposed by city staff, covering one-time reallocations, a short-term staff position, facility security and art projects, and an open-space acquisition on the West Bench.

Finance presenter Alicia McAndrews told the council the package included two percent-for-art expenditures from the airport fund — $300,000 for a mural on the east façade of the consolidated rental-car facility and $61,000 for a wall installation near Gate 16 — and a $52,500 one-time reallocation from the general fund strategic plan contingency to increase the council's maintenance and operations professional services account ($50,000) and to add $2,500 to sponsor the Andrus Center’s Young Women and Leadership Conference.

Other items approved included a two-year, term-limited digital communications coordinator in the Office of Community Engagement (initial reallocations of $36,405 in 2025 with personnel costs built into FY2026 and FY2027); a $150,000 Heritage Fund appropriation to install six webcams and six security cameras at the Willow Lane Athletic Complex; and a $550,000 appropriation from the Open Space and Clean Water Levy to buy open space on Fry Street between Northview Street and Fairview Avenue on the West Bench.

Housing and Community Development requested a transfer of net sale proceeds of $336,000 from housing project accounts to the property management fund to support the city’s rental housing program after the sale of a rental house. Public Works requested a $110,000 transfer within streetlight project accounts to fund replacement of aging street lights and a $250,000 one-time appropriation from the geothermal fund to repair a service line along Capitol Boulevard adjacent to the pedestrian greenbelt tunnel — work that staff said was interrupting Boise State University services and was expected to conclude in weeks. The final change was an $80,000 percent-for-art appropriation from the Water Renewal Fund for a water‑inspired sculpture at the Foothills Learning Center.

Alicia McAndrews concluded the presentation with, “that concludes my presentation of the interim budget changes. Happy to stand for questions.” Council discussion included questions about the remaining balance in the Open Space fund (staff estimated approximately $2,000,000 and said they would provide a precise figure after the meeting) and supportive comments praising the city’s percent-for-art program and the Fry Street acquisition. A motion to approve the interim budget changes carried; the transcript records the chair announcing, “All in favor of motion carries.” The mover, seconder and a formal roll-call tally were not specified on the public transcript.

Why it matters: the approved reallocations are mostly one-time or budget-neutral changes but will add a term-limited staff resource, shore up park and public-safety monitoring at athletic fields, expand public art at city gateways, and secure open space in a central neighborhood identified as high priority for park access. The Fry Street acquisition was highlighted by council members as a step toward improved neighborhood park access while city staff noted development of the site will depend on later funding sources such as impact-fee revenue and capital planning.

What’s next: staff said they will provide the council with the exact Open Space and Clean Water Levy fund balance after the transfer and will proceed with the projects, acquisitions and contract actions described in the interim changes.","The Boise City Council approved nine interim budget reallocations and appropriations on a motion to adopt staff recommendations, including a $550,000 Open Space and Clean Water Levy purchase on Fry Street, two airport public-art installations, and staffing and capital adjustments across multiple departments.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Water Renewal Services outlines $3 billion in assets, advances recycled-water project with pilot results and upcoming contracts

Finance staff: Boise has balanced outlook for FY2026 but ‘very little budget flexibility’ as personnel, PERSI and insurance costs rise

Boise City Council approves nine interim budget changes including Fry Street open-space purchase and airport art