CRTPA approves FY2026 budget after FDOT moves $1 million to next year

The Capital Regional Transportation Planning Agency approved its fiscal year 2026 budget on Sept. 16 after staff explained a funding shift by FDOT that reduced project‑available funds. Board members voted in favor of the budget by voice vote; the motion carried. Staff said the CRTPA initially expected about $2.8 million in available funds for FY2026 but requested that FDOT move $1 million from the current year into the next year’s work program. As a result, the revised available amount for FY2026 is roughly $1.8 million. After removing $1.1 million for operating needs, staff said approximately $660,000 in current‑year funds remain available for project activities; additional carryover from FY2025 will leave about $1.1 million available for completing existing work and initiating new work in FY2026. On expenditures, staff reported personnel costs increase by less than 1% (driven by a smaller raise and a roughly 20% decrease in pension costs), operating expenditures rose about 5%, and overall the total budget increase is under 3% compared with the prior year. The budget includes a higher audit/accounting contract figure reflecting a new contract plus a $5,000 contingency, a $1,000 increase to the food budget to support committee lunches and the annual retreat, and a roughly 40% increase for IT services. Staff said the overall personnel/services category declined about 5% from the prior year, and that the agency’s funds remain stable. Discussion only: board members praised staff for the stable budgets and thanked finance staff for preparing the statements. Formal action: the board approved the FY2026 budget (option 1) as presented.