.png)
METALINE FALLS — The Town of Metaline Falls is preparing to hold expenses and make cuts ahead of a $60,000 deficit in its 2026 budget.
To address this “substantial” deficit, Mayor Tara Leininger wrote in a news release that the Town of Metaline Falls will meet for an additional work session Sunday, Nov. 2, following an earlier work session Sunday, Oct. 26. The meeting is at 2 p.m. in Metaline Falls Town Hall, at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Kubota Street.
The budget must be passed before the end of this year. With a deficit, current expenses and revenues expected to be “substantially down,” Leininger wrote that herself and the town council must make tough choices as to where to tighten the budget.
“Tough decisions are coming, and when they are made — and the public has a right to be involved in these decisions (with questions and input) — they will be announced,” Leininger wrote.
First, the council may put major work or purchases on hold, of which there are not many, and make small cuts in serves and repairs. Next come even smaller cuts, with watering in the park and streetlights under scrutiny along with hoped-for banners and other beautification projects.
The easiest — and most difficult — cuts are to staff, Leininger wrote. Hours for employees may be cut, a part-time position eliminated and replaced by volunteers and pay raises other than mandated cost-of-living adjustments not given.
Negotiations with town employees are ongoing.
Since these positions are nearly impossible to fill, Leininger wrote that retaining employees is also a priority during the budget process.
“The Council and Mayor are fully aware that the Town’s employees are not paid nearly what they are worth, and the benefits the Town can offer are limited,” Leininger wrote.
The budget work sessions are open to the public for their questions and input. For more information, call the town office at 509-446-2211 or email townmetalinefalls@ outlook.com.
