Council Grove takes new tack on budgets
Staff writer
While Marion County and its cities are still pondering their 2026 budgets, Council Grove’s already is proposed and is being reviewed by the public online.
It’s posted prominently on the city’s website, not just as a bunch of numbers but with easy-to-understand narratives about individual projects, initiatives, and changes and the rationale for them.
City administrator Nick Jones draws up the proposed budget using a software program called gWorks, but what he posts is mainly his own writing along with charts, graphs, and other data.
“You go through the departments and see what they need or don’t need, and make adjustments,” Jones said.
Getting his budget proposal in front of the public in time for people to read and digest it is the best way to do things, he said.
“We try to do the right thing here,” he said. “It stops rumors.”
The final step before posting the proposed budget online is to have the city’s auditor review it.
Having the budget in the public eye well in advance of having to make a final decision gives both the public and elected officials time to review it and make suggestions for changes they think are needed, Jones said.
“We’re happy to answer questions,” Jones said.
Council Grove’s budget as posted online includes a budget overview, highlights of each department’s budget, and a list of city projects and future goals.
It can be seen at www.councilgrove.com.
County Tina Spencer said she thought Council Grove had a good idea.
“You have more opportunity for education that way,” Spencer said. “Sometimes the timing and what it takes to put a budget together can make that not work.”
Spencer said the county’s budget proposal was not yet completed. The county has until Sept. 15 to complete it.
Hillsboro city administrator Matt Stiles said he and council members still were working to hammer out a budget. The council will conduct a series of budget discussions before a budget is finalized and approved.
Marion city administrator Bryan Wells said a budget was being developed.
He has been in the office only a short time.
“When it’s ready to be approved, we’ll have it online close to the public meeting,” Wells said.