HAYDEN, Idaho —

The Hayden City Council voted Tuesday night to approve a $42.8 million budget for fiscal year 2026, without taking a property tax increase.

The council voted 3-1 in favor of adopting the proposed budget. Councilor Sandy White cast the dissenting vote.

In the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s decision, the council had debated whether to take a tax increase of 1%, 2%, 3% or none at all.

During a special meeting immediately before the regular meeting Tuesday night, Councilor Ed DePriest proposed approximately $68,700 in line-item cuts from departments including administration, community development, engineering and public works, asserting that the cuts would enable the city to balance the budget without a tax increase.

With the cost of contracted law enforcement services prov

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