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Highland Park council approves 2025–26 budget after last-minute amendment and heated debate
Summary
After hours of review and public comment, the Highland Park City Council voted to approve the city's fiscal 2025'26 budget on May 19, 2025. The vote followed a contentious exchange over a package of amendments delivered the same day, a later attempt to rescind a councilmember's vote and a final roll call approving the mayor's proposed budget.
Highland Park's City Council voted to adopt the fiscal 2025'26 budget on May 19, 2025, following a string of motions, a rescission attempt and extended debate over an amendment packet provided to councilmembers the same day.
The vote approves the budget for the period July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, as presented to the council and after members traded multiple motions on the council floor.
The action mattered to speakers and residents because the budget determines operating dollars for courts, public safety, public works and other core services. Councilmembers and community speakers pressed officials for explanations about line-item increases, contractual services entries and where certain funds had been allocated or withheld.
Council Pro Tem Tim Robinson, who introduced an amendment packet during the meeting and who said he worked with the treasurer on the document, told the council the group had cut “close to about about $3,000,000 out of the budget.” Mayor Brenda McDonald and other council members disputed parts of…
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