Peoria council defers decision on proposed freeze of sewer, garbage and stormwater fee increases

Peoria City Council on Tuesday deferred a motion that would have frozen proposed increases to the city’s sewer, garbage and stormwater fees for the 2026–2027 biennial budget, asking staff to return next week with a written package of recommended budget motions and report backs.

City Manager Urich and Finance Director Cratty walked council through a list of items staff says could be added or revised in the budget to balance revenues and expenditures. Urich told the council that several large grant opportunities and timing changes to capital projects were newly available and could affect the city’s cash and obligations. “90% of that is gonna come from the federal government,” Urich said when describing the expected federal match for the next phase of passenger-rail planning.

The manager described a set of potential adjustments that staff said would allow the city to absorb several revenue decisions while keeping the budget balanced. Those items include: advancing Peoria’s participation in a Federal Railroad Administration corridor planning grant (staff estimated Step 2 at $6.4 million, with a 90% federal share and a local/partner match…