It took less than five minutes for the Eureka Springs City Council to approve the city’s 2026 budget.

At a special meeting held Friday, Jan. 30, the council — with little discussion — voted 4-0 to approve a resolution on the budget, agreeing that any issues that arise can be addressed during a midyear financial review.

Despite the continued effects of winter weather on city streets, council members David Avanzino, Harry Meyer, Terry McClung and Steve Holifield were present to form a quorum and approve the budget with Rachael Moyer and Susane Gruning absent.

The only questions came from Meyer, who asked if additional payroll funds requested by the cemetery commission were included in the budget.

“No, it was not updated to include that additional income,” said city finance director Michael Akins. “If’s that’s something that we want to do, we can go ahead and approve this budget, and then if we decide … I’ll just use it as a mid-year adjustment.

“We have plenty of money to get us through the mid-year and we can adjust it at the mid-year for that extra salary.”

Meyer also asked if money was set aside for the city to purchase barricades to be used as needed on Spring Street.

“Yes,” Akins said. “I object to that wholeheartedly,” Meyer responded.

Akins said while a figure of $100,000 had been discussed for potential barricades, the city only set aside $40,000.

Public works director Simon Wiley thinks he can obtain grants to help with the remainder of the costs, Akins told the council.

“That’s a little better,” Meyer said of the $40,000.

The council’s next meeting will be held Monday, Feb. 9. A regular meeting that had been scheduled for Monday, Jan. 26, was canceled because of winter weather.