By Connor Currier
At its Aug. 13 city council meeting, Moriarty councilors weighed in on the city’s future budget and a new police plan.
Plans to review budget adjustments for the 2025–2026 fiscal year were put on hold. City Clerk Deborah Liu, who was scheduled to present proposed amendments, did not proceed with the presentation.
The council decided to reconvene for a special budget-focused meeting on Aug. 27 at 5 p.m., allowing more time to address the city’s financial planning in detail.
“This special meeting is needed because the budget adjustments could not be presented during regular meeting times,” said City Clerk/Treasurer Deborah Liu on the postponement of budget adjustments. “We need more time to figure out the budget moving forward while also being as transparent as possible.”
A Resolution increasing the city’s contribution to police officers’ Plan 5 health insurance coverage from current levels to 75% was passed. The original plan suggested offsetting this cost by eliminating one police officer position, a move that drew concern from both officials and the public.
After deliberation, the council voted to approve the contribution increase but rejected the officer cut. Instead, they agreed to fund the coverage by reallocating resources. This compromise preserved the police department’s staffing levels while addressing the officers’ health benefits.
Kenny Snow, who said he is a longtime Moriarty resident and former city employee, said, “I am embarrassed. I’ve heard repeated statements that we need to figure out the budget. We are at a point where the budget cannot be balanced without drastic cuts.”
While not all items progressed as expected, the meeting signaled that the upcoming special meeting on Aug. 27 may bring more clarity to the city’s budgetary outlook, while future sessions will likely revisit the infrastructure plan.
For more information or to follow developments, residents are encouraged to visit the official Moriarty City Council website.
