Salisbury presents fiscally conservative recommended FY 2026 budget with no property tax increase

City Manager Jim Green presented the City of Salisbury’s recommended fiscal year 2026 budget to the City Council on a special meeting, saying “the recommended budget that is presented to you tonight is balanced.” The document outlines roughly $118 million in citywide spending, preserves the current property tax rate, and uses one-time fund balance to cover selected capital needs while recommending a conservative revenue approach.

The recommended budget matters because it sets spending and service levels for the coming year and identifies tradeoffs staff say are necessary amid flat or slowing revenues, federal and state grant uncertainty, and continued growth. Green told council members the plan focuses on “taking care of what we've got” through infrastructure maintenance, targeted new positions, and reorganizations intended to improve outreach and economic development.

City Manager Jim Green and Assistant City Manager Kelly Baker emphasized priorities and structural changes. Green said he is not recommending a property tax increase and described the year as “the most challenging budget” he has worked on because of uncertainty in state and federal funding and flat sales-tax growth. Baker said the budget “is the action step” that links the council’s strategic plan to projects and programs residents will see.

Finance Director Wade Purchase provided the revenue and expenditure detail. “Total budget citywide is just short of $118,000,000,” Purchase said. He said the general fund is recommended below $67 million and that property taxes account for about 46.1% of general fund revenue. Purchase told council staff…