Staunton council reviews proposed FY26 budget, weighs 2¢ infrastructure reserve and pool-house replacement

Staunton City Council on April 3 reviewed a proposed fiscal 2026 budget that staff presented on a 91¢ real-estate tax projection and that would raise total city spending across funds to the amount presented: $164,000,000.37707, a reported increase of roughly 10.4 percent over the prior year. The council spent more than two hours reviewing revenues, carryover, outside-agency requests and planned capital reserves, and staff flagged a recommended replacement of the Gypsy Hill Park pool house because of structural deterioration.

The budget presentation, led by staff presenter Jessie Moyers and City Manager Leslie Beauregard, stressed that the general fund — the focus of most council and public interest — was shown at about $79,600,000, an 8.31 percent increase over FY25. At the 91¢ rate used in the presentation, staff estimated roughly $4.4 million in additional real-estate tax revenue; other revenue drivers included a VDOT reimbursement increase and restricted state contributions tied to the Children’s Services Act. Staff also noted a negative revenue change of $665,000 tied to the end of a jail buy-in payment the city had received in prior years.

Why it matters: council members said they want to balance the city’s long-term infrastructure needs with short-term pressure on homeowners following recent assessment increases. Staff presented alternatives for financing capital projects — including carryover, EDA receipts from recent property sales and a 2¢ real-estate tax earmark that would seed an “unknown infrastructure” reserve — and asked for guidance before the April 10 public hearing and next work session.

Key budget mechanics and program changes

- Revenues and taxes: Staff showed the proposed budget “introduced at the 91¢” rate; that comparison underlies the projections for revenue and the funding shown for schools, public safety and capital reserves. The presenter said the 91¢ projection includes two cents “for the unknown expenditures that we're gonna have associated with the tunnels that run under the wharf.” Jessie Moyers, staff presenter, said: “The total proposed budget, including all funds, is $164,000,000.37707. That's an increase at 10.4%.”

- Major spending increases: The largest single local increase shown in the draft is the transfer to Staunton City Schools — about $1.6 million, a roughly 9.55 percent increase in the school transfer as presented. Staff also…