Council reviews proposed FY2026 budget and hears public comment on proposed 91¢ tax rate; multiple routine motions approved

City staff presented the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget to the Staunton City Council on March 27 and opened a public hearing on a proposed real-estate tax rate of $0.91 per $100 of assessed value.

Budget highlights presented by City Manager Leslie Beauregard and finance staff include: - Total proposed budget: $164,000,000 for FY2026 (all funds). - General fund: $79,600,000 (an increase of about $6.1 million from FY2025). - Proposed local contribution to the schools: increase of about $1,647,852 (about a 9.55% increase to comply with a previously adopted funding formula). - Proposed personnel changes: 3% cost-of-living adjustment for full- and part-time city employees, structural salary adjustments, a 10% projected increase in health-insurance costs (shared equally between city and employees in the proposal). - Capital and infrastructure emphasis: transfer of revenue representing 2¢ of the proposed 91¢ rate to a capital infrastructure account focused first on tunnels that run beneath downtown; staff cited recent tunnel structural issues (Wiley Wilson performing a tunnel survey funded with ARPA) and said these needs increase the urgency to hold flexible funds. - No proposed utility rate increases for FY2026; staff said water, sewer and…