Finance committee presents 2026 budget that meets state levy and expenditure rules; holds vacancy mandates and new fees to close gap

The City Finance Committee met at City Hall and reviewed a proposed 2026 spending plan that city staff say meets the state levy limit and expenditure restraint requirements while using one-time revenues, mandated vacancies and new user fees to close a near-term gap. Mary Anne, a city staff member who presented the document, said the levy in the book is set at about $38,000,001, an increase of $738,946 (roughly 1.98%).

The budget meets the two legal constraints that govern property tax and spending growth. "This budget meets both of those requirements," Mary Anne said, referring to the levy-limit and expenditure-restraint tests that limit tax rate and allowable spending increases. She told the committee city staff used a mix of measures — mandated hiring freezes, targeted one-time cuts and modest revenue changes — to produce a balanced proposal.

Why it matters: the levy and expenditure-restraint rules determine…