Mayor Kurt Wilson and the finance team on Oct. 14 presented the Mayor's proposed fiscal year 2026 budget to the Roswell City Council and public, outlining a multi‑fund plan that city staff said is balanced without planned headcount reductions.

Lede/nut graf: Director of Finance Adam Novotny said the proposed all‑funds budget is about $233 million and aligns with the administration's priorities for public safety, infrastructure and economic development. Novotny and CFO Bill Godshall emphasized the budget's reliance on data‑driven, zero‑based processes and said reserves are sufficient to start the city's first calendar‑year budget cycle.

Major highlights
- All funds proposed budget: $233,000,000 (staff figure presented Oct. 14).
- Capital program: $21,500,000 in proposed capital investments highlighted for 2026, including:
- Citywide road resurfacing: $4,000,000
- Traffic calming: $400,000
- City Hall roof replacement: $7,000,000
- Green Street mobility project: $3,000,000
- Sharpshooters revitalization and construction: about $1,500,000
- Parking deck construction administration and contingency: $1,200,000
- Tourism development and historic activation: about $979,000
- Other capital improvements: $4,200,000
- General Fund: Novotny said a beginning fund balance of $28,500,000, after required reserves leaves $2,700,000 net balance; combining projected 2026 revenues and operating expenses produced $4,300,000 available for general fund capital.
- Property tax / millage: staff said the operating millage rate remains steady; the presentation included historical context for current rates and voter‑approved public safety bonds.
- Public safety: budget funds police starting pay increases and continues multi‑year investments to transition to a full‑time fire department; Novotny said the police force will be fully staffed and the fire department will receive strategic personnel additions.
- Utilities and enterprise funds: water/sewer includes rate increases from an earlier rate study (schedule presented: 10% July 2023; 7% July 2024; 7% July 2025; 6% July 2026; 6% July 2027). Stormwater and solid waste increases implemented in prior years were reiterated.
- Hotel/motel (lodging) fund: revenue uses shown include Visit Roswell (43.75% of revenue), transfers to the general fund (37.5%), tourism product development (18.75%); staff cited estimated FY2026 payments such as Visit Roswell ~$779,000, Roswell Inc. ~$279,000 and Roswell Historic Society $75,000.

Process, timeline and public participation
Novotny and City Administrator Randy Knighton reminded the public that because the Oct. 14 meeting was the first presentation of the mayor's proposed budget, public comment on the budget would not be taken that night; comment periods are set for the first reading on Oct. 20 at 6:00 p.m. and the second reading/adoption on Oct. 27. Staff said the full budget book (about 120 pages) would be posted online by noon the day after the meeting and a PDF and paper copies would be available.

Quotes
"The budget is balanced with no reduction planned in the headcount overall in 2026," Novotny said.
"We're making investments in public safety," Novotny added, listing starting‑wage raises and fire department staffing changes.

Council and staff reaction
Council members praised finance staff for the zero‑based budgeting approach, noting the level of department detail and the multi‑year planning that allowed both capital investments and public safety commitments without an operating millage increase. Novotny said the budget process relied on cross‑departmental performance measures and that staff will continue to build departmental KPIs and performance reporting.

Ending
City staff urged residents to review the online materials and attend the two upcoming public hearings: first reading Oct. 20 (public comment accepted), and second reading and adoption Oct. 27 (public comment accepted).