COTTAGE GROVE – City officials in Cottage Grove invited community members to a town hall meeting last week to discuss options for balancing the budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year. The library is facing a proposed 56% budget cut, and there is a proposal to completely eliminate funding for the Warren Doherty Aquatic Center.
Roughly 150 people filled the Armory on Thursday night. By a show of hands, around 90% of the crowd was there to support the pool and/or the library. Some people accessorized with pool floaties and towels, and many wore blue T-shirts showing support for the library and pool.
The proposed general fund amount for community promotions, including the aquatic center, is $98,000, which is a decrease of $105,000 from the previous budget of $203,000 for 2025-26, according to the 2026-27 budget proposal.
Last fiscal year, the pool received $75,000 from this fund; this year, it is proposed to receive nothing.
“The budget process is to say what proportion of the finite resource goes to these limited services. That’s what we’re trying to discern,” said Greg Ervin, city councilor.
Seeking solutions
Some people offered suggestions for limiting the impact or raising revenue. One common idea was to have the city hire a grant writer.
“The city once had a very successful grant writer who brought in new funds, and there were counselors who brought in funds,” said community member Bruce Kelsh. He also suggested that the city sell some of the land it purchased, which is now informally referred to as the “$2.9 million mistake.”
The City purchased 61 acres for Project Sparrow back in 2023 south of Lincoln Middle School. The City’s plan is to use a portion of the parcel for industrial development, while approximately 55 acres – the area north of Cleveland Avenue, south of East Hayes Avenue, and west of Patrick Court – will be used for housing.
City manager Mike Sauerwein said that the city is in the process of selling.
“We have been very successful with grant writing, and we are working on it in every single category,” Solesbee said, mentioning that the Cottage Grove Police Department recently received $800,000 and downtown Main Street received the biggest grant in the nation for the revitalization project.
Community staples
Brittany Smith, owner of The Flow Shoppes, a metaphysical supply store in downtown Cottage Grove, discussed the importance of maintaining these resources and offered more suggestions.
“The library and pool are sober spaces in a boozy town. That matters in a town where alcohol is everywhere. Sober, public spaces are not optional. They are a part of community health. They are a part of prevention. They are a part of public safety,” Smith said. “Not everyone has money to spend just to be somewhere.”
Smith suggested the City use part of the contingency as a one-year bridge while the city continues cleaning up the financial and audit problems.
“Do not make permanent damage out of the temporary crisis,” Smith warned.
Earlier comments from community members have highlighted that the pool plays a vital role in teaching residents how to survive in a city surrounded by rivers and lakes. It is often the first place where people learn to swim safely. Data can be collected to compare local drowning rates before and after the pool’s construction, and, according to local opinions, the drowning rate decreased after the pool was built.
Andrew Elliott, co-chair of the Friends of the Warren Doherty Aquatic Center, revealed that the Friends will be making an effort to help raise funds.
“We are dedicated to ongoing collaboration with the city and with the school district to keep the center’s doors open … we will be launching a fundraising campaign to do our part,” Elliott said. “It will take all of us, pool users, their family and friends, Cottage Grove alumni, benevolent foundations, and, of course, the city, to help us through these lean years.”
Other suggestions included postponing major projects, trimming city staff salaries, and imposing a utility fee. Councilor Dana Merryday asked the audience whether they would be willing to pay an additional fee to support public services, in addition to their increasing utility bills.
“I’m going to warn you, your utilities will increase next year by a little over $10, but this is only for Cottage Grove utility payers. Would you be willing to pay an additional $4 to partially fund the library and increase the money available for these community promotion programs?,” Merryday asked. About 75% of the remaining crowd raised their hand in support.
Because of rising operating costs, residents would see a 7% increase in their monthly utility bills. A typical single-family home using around 5,000 gallons of water per month could expect to see an increase of $10.76. Merryday suggested the additional $4 fee would only last for one year.
The proposed Fiscal Year 2026–27 Budget will be presented to the Budget Committee at Cottage Grove City Hall at 6 p.m. on April 30, with an additional meeting scheduled for May 19 if needed. A Public Hearing will take place at the first Budget Committee meeting to receive public comments on the proposed use of State Shared Revenues. A second Public Hearing regarding the expenditure of State Shared Revenues will be held at the June 22 city council meeting.
Folks with serious suggestions on how to balance the budget can email them to Mindy Roberts at [email protected].
