The Fond du Lac City Council on Sept. 17 reviewed the proposed 2026 budget and five-year capital improvement plan, which includes a proposed levy increase of 2.3%, funding for replacement of the Stowe Street Bridge, expanded lead service-line abatement and purchases of event barricades intended to secure downtown events. City Manager Joe Moore and Director of Administration Trisha Davey presented the plan and answered council questions.

The proposed levy "came in at 2.3%, which is about a half a percent less than CPI," City Manager Joe Moore said, adding that the budget "fully funds the operations, protects the bond rating and provides for a healthy fund balance." Moore said staff plans to publish the public hearing notice in the newspaper and hold a public hearing at the council's second meeting in October, with the council aiming for adoption of the budget and levy at the first meeting in November.

The nut graf: The proposal is intended to fund ongoing operations while advancing capital priorities identified in recent studies — including bridge, riverfront, parks and fire-station work — and to preserve fiscal stability ahead of tax-bill printing in November.

Most important facts: The CIP proposes replacing the Stowe Street Bridge on the east side of the city and continuing a multiyear inflow-and-infiltration effort budgeted at roughly $4,000,000 over five years. Moore said lead service-line abatement, which began this year, will be larger in 2026 and subsequent years. The plan also includes park improvements (including a full upgrade of the Adelaide ball field), additional investments tied to a 2024 riverfront plan and the beginning of design work for fire-station feasibility recommendations discussed in summer meetings.

Moore described a new public-safety measure for events: "we've decided to recommend that we buy more of those [yellow wheel barricades] so that we can really button up every event ... so that there's no way that a car could sneak through on any of the streets that are connected to Main Street." The memo notes the city already bought some barricades and recommends further purchases to secure Fondue Fest and smaller events.

On equipment timing, Moore said the city must order a fire engine now to meet a 2029 delivery, which is why the CIP shows $1.5 million in the 2026 capital program for that purpose. Trisha Davey highlighted that vacant positions are budgeted under the assumption the city hopes positions will be filled by Jan. 1; she said that approach avoids structural shortfalls if positions are filled.

Davey also summarized funding treatments in the budget: transit expenses are paid from a pooled combination of local, state and federal dollars rather than segregating each pay line; the library director position is funded from the library budget; and the city continues an allocation for Envision services, including a $10,000 membership for the Chamber of Commerce and a $15,000 pool for fee-based services should the city choose to purchase them.

The Plan Commission provided a recommendation to approve the upcoming year's CIP as part of the review process; Moore noted the commission is required to review the CIP and create a recommendation for council consideration. No motions to change the budget or CIP were offered during the meeting.

Next steps: staff will publish the public hearing notice for the second meeting in October, then collect public comment before the anticipated levy and budget adoption in November. Moore said the city aims to provide council and the public time to engage before those hearings.

Ending: Council members did not propose changes at the Sept. 17 session; staff asked members to forward additional questions for inclusion on upcoming agendas. The council adjourned following a unanimous motion to end the special meeting.