POCATELLO — Pocatello residents will have the opportunity Thursday evening to weigh in on the city's proposed $186.7 million budget for fiscal year 2027, along with proposed fee increases across more than a dozen city departments and a plan to tap into a reserve of previously uncollected property taxes.

The City Council will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Thursday at City Hall, 911 N. 7th Ave., to take public comment on all three items simultaneously.

The budget

The proposed budget for fiscal year 2027 — which covers Oct. 1, 2026 through Sept. 30, 2027 — totals $186,698,374 across all funds, up from $153.7 million in amended fiscal year 2026 revenues. The estimated revenue from property taxes for fiscal year 2027 is $37,527,019, with total revenue from all other sources including internal transfers estimated at $149,171,355.

The largest proposed expenditure category is enterprise funds — which cover utilities, sanitation, ambulance and water services — at $65.9 million. Tax funds, which include the general fund, street fund, library, recreation and airport, total $71.6 million. Capital projects funds come in at $23.1 million, driven largely by $20 million in proposed airport construction spending.

Fee increases

The city is also proposing fee increases of up to 5 percent across 16 departments and programs beginning Oct. 1, 2026. The affected departments include the airport, animal services, building department, cemetery, community recreation center, fire department, grants division, parks and recreation, planning and development, sanitation, water, water pollution control and Zoo Idaho, among others. The proposed increases are due to additional program costs or an effort by departments to recover costs through fees rather than tax increases, the city said. Detailed fee change information is available at pocatello.gov under the Public Notices section

Forgone taxes

The council will also consider tapping $375,019 from the city's forgone tax reserve — a pool of property tax revenue the city was legally entitled to collect in prior years but chose not to. The city's current forgone balance stands at $5,408,889. Drawing the requested amount would bring that balance down to approximately $5,033,870. The funds would be used specifically to offset the costs of inflation and consumer price index increases.

Under Idaho law, municipalities can bank uncollected property tax capacity and draw on it in future years, providing a budget tool that avoids new tax levies.

Thursday's hearing is open to the public. Anyone wishing to comment on the proposed budget, fee increases or forgone tax usage may appear before the council at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at 911 N. 7th Ave.