Dubuque council adopts $276.4 million FY2026 budget, advances $152.1 million five‑year CIP

The Dubuque City Council voted 7-0 April 28 at a special session in the Historic Federal Building to adopt an amended fiscal year 2026 budget and a five‑year capital improvement program, approving a $276,430,089 recommended total budget and related resolutions.

Jennifer Larson, the city’s chief financial officer, presented the recommendation and the figures that formed the basis for the vote. "I will be presenting the public hearing to adopt the fiscal year 26 budget," Larson said. She said the recommended total budget is $276,430,089, with an operating budget of $184,528,990 and capital of $91,901,249.

The budget recommendation includes a proposed city property tax levy of just over $29.8 million, a 5.77% increase, and a tax rate rise of about 1.38% to $10.06 per $1,000 of assessed value. Larson set out enterprise fund rate changes the council approved later in the meeting: recommended 9% increases for both water and sanitary sewer, a 5% increase for curbside collection and a 5% stormwater increase, which the city estimated would raise average monthly utility costs by about $9.91.

Why it matters: the plan directs money to public safety, infrastructure and parks while increasing the levy for the typical homeowner. Larson said public safety accounts for 42.8% of general fund expenditures and noted a recommended five‑year CIP that relies on new debt financing for large infrastructure…