Roanoke council adopts FY26 budget, reaffirms real estate tax rate after budget shortfalls disclosed

Roanoke City Council adopted the city's fiscal year 2026 budget and related appropriations on May 12 and reaffirmed the existing real property tax rate, after council members described previously undisclosed shortfalls and deferred maintenance that the city must address.

The vote on the budget ordinance was 5-1, with Councilor Hagen the lone dissenting vote. Mayor Cobb, Councilor Nash, Councilor Vollison, Councilor Powers and Vice Mayor McGuire voted to adopt the budget; Hagen voted no.

Councilor Vollison told colleagues the council had learned of prior budget practices that left the city with substantial deferred maintenance and unbudgeted liabilities. "Previous leaders used vacancy savings to cover funding gaps, did not budget overtime for public safety, and deferred maintenance on roughly $25,000,000 of items including 14 elevators and $6,700,000 worth of air handlers," Vollison said during the meeting.

The council also reaffirmed the real…