Minden · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Minden public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
$125,000 State Legislative Appropriation
The council will authorize the mayor to accept a $125,000 line-item appropriation from the 2026 legislative session via a cooperative endeavor agreement.
2025-2026 Budget Fourth-Quarter Review
Sales tax collections dropped 12.13% this month — not a panic, just the city lapping last year's big electrical equipment sales from major construction projects. This month is tracking much stronger so far.
2026-2027 Budget Amendment
The city's spending plan for the next fiscal year was reviewed in workshop. What the council settles on will shape funding for city services, streets, and public safety over the coming year.
$5.5 Million in 2026 State Appropriations
The city's lobbyist reported $5.5 million secured this session — fire station, Robertson lift station, water tank, and more — bringing two-year total funding to nearly $14.5 million.
Airport hangar rental fee increases
The council closed out grant funding for the completed parallel taxiway North project and started the five-year cycle to re-select the airport's engineer.
Draft Employee Handbook Overhaul
The city's new draft handbook roughly doubles the old one, adding policies on AI use, records management, and financial administration. Council members will review it through October before it moves forward.
Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Audit Results
The city got a clean opinion on its finances, and sales tax grew from $8.2 million to $9 million while the general fund balance rose to $13.7 million. But the utility fund lost about $3 million — mostly power costs — and auditors flagged repeat findings on late audit submissions and year-end bookkeeping that staff are working to fix.
Quarter 3 budget status and franchise fee payment issues
City finances are roughly on track at the 75 percent mark of the budget year, but some companies paying franchise fees are having trouble switching to electronic payments, leaving about $200,000 outstanding.
Delta Regional Authority FY2026 grant application
The city is applying for a DRA grant, and Mayor Cox can now sign all the paperwork. Minden has committed to putting up matching funds, so this brings grant dollars in at a local cost.
2026 Property Tax Millage
The council rolled forward the city's tax mills for 2026, keeping property tax rates at existing levels rather than reducing them.