[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6019844,"mediaKeyId","5771522-3bcaf45221bda3103514a6854a5a2b10","parentId",5771522,"title","Residents and staff flag park maintenance needs as committee budgets for splash‑pad design and grant writing","audioSeconds",3554,"startMs",4008500,"endMs",7562505,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5771522-3bcaf45221bda3103514a6854a5a2b10&start=4008&end=7562","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5771522-3bcaf45221bda3103514a6854a5a2b10/thumbnail_4008500.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6019844/Talent/Jackson-County/Oregon/Residents-and-staff-flag-park-maintenance-needs-as-committee-budgets-for-splashpad-design-and-grant-writing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6019844-a3c39292242e48fd08aaeeda276a1ad6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771054472&Signature=a6B7gBYqvlyQnF6QxUstrNAZx2Ybvv~RwICQH9po0SLiP6QrYfHGiyz4PQbWyeZIaECwbHosGlMBHWdrjTiSWHH7Od-Q~2lf3f6xePq0lhFGKGadyRHOuI9SpyuKYY-Y-UzPkD5PMDin1AOgFsNrWhuNu3ZMqB3pKzqXQyJjsxdUORNPVmIMJMwMfgHl9Upmq440n6AEYS0VkUSCVh8Qtd5Zi13V3U7qWZVN8Aodu4WhvAM3lDOvBgKV~w9qsGGVa9DhiuCCiyzj2Hu7RIm4Vb74OpXpuPGJEnUzL8oxHS9EkFmiJs5r3MGXqqIT3NmosqHTGUv0GUAmrycywFk7Tw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Talent, OR","date","2025-05-14T00:00:00Z","article","The budget committee reviewed parks‑fund items for fiscal 2025–26, including proposed contracted services to support engineering and grant applications for a possible Chuck Roberts Park splash pad and public comments characterizing maintenance needs at Upper Roberts Park.

Finance Director Tessa DeLine told the committee she plans to add $35,000–$46,000 in contracted personnel for temporary help and grant writing tied to a consolidated Chuck Roberts Park improvement project so the city can pursue an Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) grant and design work: “This budget now reflects engineering for, figuring out what the right solution for conservation for the splash pad is and also some contracted services to support that grant application to OPRD.”

Public comment highlighted maintenance concerns. Susan Fizzo, a Talent resident, said she had walked the park with past staff and neighbors and called current maintenance “inadequate,” asking for a documented long‑term maintenance plan: “I believe there's inadequate maintenance in the Upper Roberts Park,” she said, urging clearer staffing or contractual commitments so future public‑works turnovers do not interrupt care.

Committee members also discussed Harvest Festival accounting after Talent Business Alliance representative Darby Ayers Flood described the organization’s one‑year arrangement to run the 2024 event. Ayers Flood said the alliance submitted two proposals: one in which the alliance would collect vendor and sponsor revenue and pay expenses (a net‑zero option for the city), and a second in which the alliance accepted a fixed fee and collected vendor fees only. “Our proposals were based on net 0 proposals, so at no cost to the city,” she said, and confirmed the alliance will not operate the festival this year.

DeLine and committee members noted parks utility fees and fund balance are declining and said staff will revisit the parks fee and coordinate with the parks commission on priorities. Staff will bring a revised budget with the added contracted services and the CIP transfer request for council consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Budget Committee Meeting, May 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The budget committee reviewed parks‑fund items for fiscal 2025–26, including proposed contracted services to support engineering and grant applications for a possible Chuck Roberts Park splash pad and public comments characterizing maintenance needs at Upper Roberts Park.","taxTitle","Talent, Jackson County, Oregon","taxId",70340,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6019849,"Talent plans AMI roll‑out and readies for likely wholesale water cost increases",981,5127560,6108590,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5771522-3bcaf45221bda3103514a6854a5a2b10&start=5127&end=6108","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5771522-3bcaf45221bda3103514a6854a5a2b10/thumbnail_5127560.jpg","/articles/6019849/Talent/Jackson-County/Oregon/Talent-plans-AMI-rollout-and-readies-for-likely-wholesale-water-cost-increases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6019849-95d55d8ca9174c95a939c6cd29012622/orig.mp4?Expires=1771054472&Signature=WvOVvXX33mAnYKuOS5Jf4-3TPEQJcWaVtWxvjWYRjbizD3efqz7Jrb1aZ8DLAQLUbhEPKmNXdoN6xqV3LyUU0z5S1ZzTEXQK-ZACZWpemeL49LrjC~3JAZ3WvyoSrDMi8FiXhACby8LV-PvsbsJU5n4rl51m5bnY1ra7XAykYoja361f5juWa6GJohtRCgWARjmrp2eivz~lNeFLiImVbVP6AwGx7Z7eC32KmB~BV5GLZe5n6tT8VYzlPvz2hrIFA44gxiMBjLbeDF4hhF9FiqBtTvOhDqtkmu8J1ZtD~LEfyz2EKH-P6Lp0dNIDnCvQVqcEABT9R~pmSaevPTOs6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City finance and public‑works staff told the budget committee the draft water fund budget includes costs for the city's advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) project and consultant work expected to support a rate study, and staff said they will ask the committee to consider higher wholesale charges when finalizing the proposal.

Finance Director Tessa DeLine said the AMI program will add annual software and service fees and that the draft includes consultant expense to update the rate model. “When we look at increasing water rates…it’s important we stick with the rate model that we purchased from HDR engineering,” DeLine said, noting a professionally developed model follows AWWA best practices and is defendable.

DeLine told the committee the AMI investment should improve revenue capture and customer service. “When they get old and they're not working well, they're undercounting. So, yeah, it should increase our revenues as well,” she said, and added AMI will also help staff and customers identify leaks earlier: “we could easily identify and give somebody calling, ‘by the way, you've used 5,000 gallons yesterday. What's going on?’”

Staff asked the committee to accept a corrected wholesale water purchase line in the next draft after recent notice from the Metro Water Commission that its rate increase could be around 15%. DeLine said staff will bring updated pages and, if warranted, engage HDR to run the rate model with updated inputs before any formal rate change is proposed to council.

The committee also discussed franchise or internal transfer payments from the enterprise fund to the general fund and timing options for a $1,000,000 loan balloon payment due in 2030; staff said they will return with analysis on debt‑service reserve or prepayment alternatives.","The committee reviewed the water fund budget, including rollout costs for advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), consultant and software fees, and a recommendation to run a rate study because Metro Water Commission wholesale charges could rise roughly 15% next year; staff also discussed tools AMI will provide for leak detection and billing.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6019854,"Capital projects face funding uncertainty as FEMA grant for post‑fire tree planting flagged at risk",564,995385,1560044,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5771522-3bcaf45221bda3103514a6854a5a2b10&start=995&end=1560","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5771522-3bcaf45221bda3103514a6854a5a2b10/thumbnail_995385.jpg","/articles/6019854/Talent/Jackson-County/Oregon/Capital-projects-face-funding-uncertainty-as-FEMA-grant-for-postfire-tree-planting-flagged-at-risk","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6019854-a5d1990dad321199641371b432e90f4c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771054472&Signature=AA4OTNYPdSuHFc8jbpCXzQ-wkCH86zCcJ7ivNKzSn8FbpQ08YgsKaolyVD6AIk~lUkF23UaE56NPVoNFKxKqa55Dq3AyEDE4eNe5er4NuCae1hGAz1BzYWlvMNNlq-Y1sQwDVb5bb23cFTVmytUKM~DlAIW4zk6A2HUSosk8YVDqOIGT2yPW~lGAvQMM4VpO5SlflwqgR~JY6aIEExucOpw2VGq1dRovMDQfMxDDXP3o9jH32nrTTJMjCWOwsM5dLhCqy1mumanoyNuSXh5YRWQTn5hLuwOUCwkZYKHncGJEDUHWxnOVx7aJ6BVz6j~kdXjnI7CP9~StqbCpGghKKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff told the budget committee the capital improvement program for fiscal 2025–26 includes several grant‑funded projects but also significant unfunded items that will require grants, user‑fee changes or SDC transfers.

“Grant revenues are considerably higher because of funding for the Gateway Project, Talent Resource Center, the Skate Park, and Post Fire Recovery Project,” Finance Director Tessa DeLine said during the presentation.

DeLine said staff learned late in the process that a FEMA‑related grant for phase two of post‑fire tree planting and irrigation may be subject to extra federal scrutiny. “OEM has advised us to be prepared to answer some questions, and they feel that those funds are potentially at risk,” DeLine said, adding that because the program is reimbursement‑based staff will not expend those dollars until the questions are resolved.

The committee reviewed the capital project list that includes the Old Town Skatepark (about $421,000 in the draft), the Gateway Project, and the Talent Community Resource Center. DeLine said some existing grants and reimbursements received in 2024–25 increased actual expenditures and that the city will run a supplemental budget to record grant revenues and the related project costs received after last year’s adopted budget.

Members and staff also discussed systems development charges (SDCs). DeLine said Talent collects parks, transportation, storm‑drain and water SDCs but that the SDC fund has had no transfers to CIP since 2023–24 and that staff will need to identify which projects are eligible and recommend transfers accordingly.

The committee raised longer‑term capital finance issues. Staff noted a water loan with a roughly $1 million balloon payment is due in 2030. DeLine said staff is considering options — prepaying, creating a debt‑service reserve fund, or other approaches — and will provide more analysis and a recommended approach at a later date.

No decisions were made; staff recorded committee questions and said they will provide updated revenue and capital pages at the next meeting for committee consideration.","Committee members reviewed a long list of capital projects — Old Town Skatepark, Gateway Project, Community Resource Center, AMI meter project — and staff told the committee a $1 million FEMA‑linked tree planting reimbursement may be at risk pending federal review; committee discussed SDCs, grants and the $1 million balloon bond due in 2030.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6019858,"Talent budget committee reviews draft 2025–26 spending plan with staffing, insurance and vehicle leases rising",2366,95770,2462115,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5771522-3bcaf45221bda3103514a6854a5a2b10&start=95&end=2462","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5771522-3bcaf45221bda3103514a6854a5a2b10/thumbnail_95770.jpg","/articles/6019858/Talent/Jackson-County/Oregon/Talent-budget-committee-reviews-draft-202526-spending-plan-with-staffing-insurance-and-vehicle-leases-rising","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6019858-e0210f3d934d38d2d85a6d2a1f645dd5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771054472&Signature=XGLxuKsobSuQ-CLq4mITgFDswrckTagZMDAgjMYKVPh9vc-NoTSXhuLgf9g81lMsGmnBM2EaH-Bcg1L79ZMQIO0adDT~5G8dQuk3RS2IIa7RozMs9wwMWvGIhdJc-E0vZ2leMDZ5BiBG8UJxN3~bSDyi41ABrHqnxBakSl4EYRuHA20Wo5oDCXkS5zbhEDRGRXc~T6SVo5lrrFHx0CRuCfqAjCYgdBWJmbVK6tSeyvIJUkh7sVb0e1hWuF39qq4muZE9ZOA2GI5oCaxJiQEPkRt2cJJyHuCtbuFP~7EPDpWXJzmkCNzX3Uc871kIbiBVKbTDh2u6oblH7rKbINIXvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Talent budget committee on Thursday reviewed the city’s draft fiscal year 2025–26 budget, with staff flagging higher grant-funded capital spending, a proposed additional public works full-time equivalent, projected salary and retirement cost increases, and a new multi-year police vehicle lease.

Finance Director Tessa DeLine led the presentation and told the committee the draft is intended to be “a next level of detail review” and that staff hope to bring a clean budget forward for committee recommendation at the next meeting.

DeLine said the budget shows “significant increases in grant revenues and expenditures” tied to projects including the Gateway Project, the Old Town Skatepark and the Talent Community Resource Center. She also summarized cost pressures: an anticipated 4% salary increase across bargaining and non‑bargaining staff, up to a 20% rise in PERS employer contributions, and “up to 20% increases in our general liability and property insurance.”

The draft adds an additional public works position whose time would be shared across parks, streets and the water utility. DeLine said the hire should reduce reliance on contracted services such as paving after service-line repairs, and “in the medium term” be roughly revenue neutral by lowering long‑term maintenance costs.

Committee members pressed staff on several line items. A member queried property tax revenue estimates and an assessor report; DeLine said the $24.25 figure in the draft is a best estimate based on collections to date and projected receipts through May and June. On vehicle costs, DeLine confirmed the proposal includes a police vehicle acquisition via a five‑year lease and that lease payments were moved from capital to the general fund for visibility.

The committee also discussed contingency and fund balance. DeLine said a $700,000 contingency remains in the draft, “we don't expect to spend it, but it's there in case of an emergency.” She noted contingency has historically been a fixed-dollar placeholder and suggested the city might later adopt a formal contingency policy tied to operating costs.

This session was informational; the committee opened a public hearing and received comments but did not vote to adopt the budget. Staff said they plan to present a revised budget and the tax rate for committee recommendation at the next meeting.","City staff presented the draft fiscal 2025–26 budget, noting higher grant revenues for capital projects, expected increases in personnel costs and insurance, a proposed additional public works position, and a new police vehicle lease; the committee held a public hearing but took no formal action.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents and staff flag park maintenance needs as committee budgets for splash‑pad design and grant writing

Talent plans AMI roll‑out and readies for likely wholesale water cost increases

Capital projects face funding uncertainty as FEMA grant for post‑fire tree planting flagged at risk

Talent budget committee reviews draft 2025–26 spending plan with staffing, insurance and vehicle leases rising