TD Council passes $111 million budget with little push back

Home Page

Jun 17

The Dalles City Council Adopts Budget, Approves Infrastructure and Tourism Investments

The Dalles, Ore., June 17, 2025 — The Dalles City Council unanimously adopted the city’s 2025-26 budget on Monday June 9, setting the course for more than $111 million in spending across operations, infrastructure, and public services.

The adopted budget includes allocations for public safety, personnel, water infrastructure, and tourism development. It also authorizes the city to receive state-shared revenues for the upcoming fiscal year, continuing support for the general and street funds.

Among the most notable actions taken was the approval of a new $465,000 tourism services contract with The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce, up from $450,000 previously budgeted. The additional cost will be offset by reducing funding for other tourism-related projects. Chamber staff presented a report showing a return of $7.2 million in visitor spending from a $5,000 targeted ad campaign, among other marketing successes.

“Tourism is a vital part of our community,” said Mayor Rich Mays. “It brought in over $75 million this last year. It supported jobs, filled hotel rooms, fed our downtown, and gave thousands of visitors a reason to come back.”

City Manager Matthew Klebes added that the adopted budget reflects both the council’s priorities and the community’s operational needs.

“This budget reflects not only the priorities of this council but the practical realities of service delivery and infrastructure investment,” Klebes said. “We’ve made strategic decisions to stay fiscally responsible while addressing community needs.”

The council also authorized expenditures for the 2025 street chip seal project, although the exact amount was not specified during the meeting.

In other infrastructure-related decisions, the council approved a $15,000 allocation to cover legal and surveying costs associated with vacating and rededicating right-of-way for the proposed Federal Street Plaza. The project aims to convert a section of Federal Street between East First and Second streets into a pedestrian-focused civic space.

Separately, the council approved another right-of-way vacation near Columbia Road and Steelhead Way to support expanded freight circulation at the Google (Design LLC) campus. Google will pay the associated mapping and recording costs.

Google Wells given to City

Later in the meeting, the city formally accepted ownership of a 4.5-acre parcel valued at $19.6 million that houses two municipal water wells, two 1.25-million-gallon reservoirs, a booster pump station, and other utilities. The improvements were built and funded entirely by Google as part of a 2021 infrastructure agreement with the city.

“As we go around the community, people ask what Google does for The Dalles,” said Councilor Timothy McGlothlin. “This is a big one—two wells, storage tanks, and full infrastructure, all at their expense, and we get to sell the water back to them.”

Sewer Rates Increased

Finally, the council approved amendments to the city’s fee schedule, including a 3% increase in sewer rates. Inside-city customers will see their monthly rate rise from $46.32 to $47.71 starting July 1.

“This proposed increase is intended to mitigate a higher potential rate increase down the line,” Klebes said, noting that a wastewater master plan is underway.

During the public comment portion of the hearing, one local resident questioned the size of the police department’s budget.

“Where we spend our money reflects our values,” the resident said, urging the council to maintain accountability.

Klebes responded that while police are often the largest recipients of general fund dollars in Oregon cities, a substantial portion of this year’s increase was due to a joint project to modernize the 911 dispatch and records system.