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Elmhurst presents 2026 budget, officials warn general fund strain; proposed levy increase included
Summary
City staff introduced a $274 million 2026 operating budget and flagged pressure on the general fund after federal stimulus funds run out, citing a $1 million proposed corporate levy increase and higher health and pension costs.
City Manager Grabowski and Finance Director Christina Coyle introduced the City of Elmhurst’s proposed fiscal year 2026 operating budget to the City Council Committee of the Whole on Oct. 6, describing a $274 million citywide budget and a general fund that will be under pressure next year.
“The greatest challenge for the city as we move into 2026 is positioning the city's general fund for the future,” City Manager Grabowski said, describing a mix of higher recurring costs and the exhaustion of one-time federal stimulus money that had previously bolstered reserves.
Why it matters: the proposed budget maintains the city’s 25% fund-balance policy but relies on a combination of department reductions and revenue enhancements to do so. The transmittal materials show total city revenues of $274,000,000…
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