Alpena presents FY2026 budget showing multi‑year deficits; council approves several capital items and a $50,000 cemetery fund withdrawal

Finance Director Anna Sork presented the city of Alpena’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget at the May 5 council meeting, showing projected general fund deficits for two consecutive years and a falling fund balance that will require policy or revenue adjustments in coming years.

Sork told the council the general fund is projecting revenues of about $13.8 million and expenditures of about $14.8 million for fiscal 2026, producing a planned draw from fund balance of approximately $992,978. The presentation showed a general fund unassigned balance of about $4.8 million at June 30, 2024, projected to fall to about $2.9 million by June 30, 2026 (roughly a 16–17% unassigned balance, compared with a policy minimum of 10% and a maximum of 20%).

Council received and filed the budget presentation by motion. During the presentation staff emphasized steps under way to…