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City of Battle Ground previews $86.4 million 2026 budget with major personnel, benefits and capital asks
Summary
City staff presented a preliminary 2026 budget that uses roughly $6 million in fund balance, proposes new FTEs including two police officers tied to a public-safety sales tax, and flags higher employee benefit costs from insurers.
City staff presented the preliminary 2026 budget during a council study session on Oct. 6, showing estimated total revenues of about $80.5 million, planned uses of roughly $86.4 million and an anticipated draw of approximately $6 million from existing fund balances.
“This is our second study session related to the 2026 budget,” said Megan (staff member), who led the presentation. “Any questions you have, anything you want to delve into further, this is the time to ask.”
The presentation front-loaded personnel costs — the single largest expense category — and explained items built into the draft figures. The budget assumes a 4.5% contract cost-of-living adjustment for police officers and a 3% increase for noncommissioned public-safety staff; Teamsters bargaining remains in progress, and nonrepresented employees are historically budgeted to follow Teamsters once that settlement is set. Staff also flagged health-insurance rate increases from…
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