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Bristol staff present FY2026 revenue outlook; council warned of landfill costs and pending tax-rate decision
Summary
City staff presented projected FY2026 revenues and a schedule for the budget process; highlights included higher real estate and lodging tax estimates, pending tax-rate calculations, and a large landfill-related expense borne by the general fund.
City staff reviewed revenue projections and the schedule for the FY2026 budget at a March 25 budget workshop, reporting projected increases in real estate, lodging and restaurant meals taxes while cautioning that several figures rest on only a short run of data.
City Manager Randy and finance staff outlined the remaining budget schedule: a formal budget presentation on April 8, a public hearing on the tax rate and a tax-rate resolution on April 12, advertisement of the appropriation ordinance on April 12, and public hearings and readings through May when the budget ordinance will be adopted. The tax rate underlying the numbers had not been finalized; staff said they would confirm the rate the following morning.
Key revenue highlights presented by staff included a proposed increase in current real estate tax revenue from $14.6 million in the FY2025 budget to $17.3 million in FY2026 (an increase of about $2.7 million). Lodging tax revenue was projected to rise from $3.5 million to $4.5 million. Restaurant meals taxes were projected to increase by about $350,000 overall, and admissions tax receipts were estimated to increase by roughly $60,000. Staff emphasized that some projections rely on two months of data from a large local economic development activity and that figures could change as more data arrive.
On admissions tax policy, Randy said the tax is collected from customers when they buy tickets and is not a levy paid by nonprofit event organizers. “I would not recommend to this council to get rid of the admissions tax,” Randy said, noting the tax helps cover public-safety and public-works costs during major events. Staff also said they cannot disclose individual businesses’ tax contributions under state code.
Council members asked for follow-up details, including an average household impact for real-estate reassessment. Staff said they will provide an average-dollar-change estimate for property owners after finalizing the tax rate. Several council members praised Tamara Spradlin’s work on the revenue projections: “Tamara Spradlin has worked tirelessly on this,” Randy said.
Beyond revenue lines, council discussed major cost pressures. Staff reported that landfill-related expenses will require roughly $9 million from the general fund this year and that the city carries sizable debt related to the landfill (roughly $62 million) and the Falls development (approximately $80–84 million). Council members noted gaming-tax revenue is split among 14 localities and so does not fully offset those obligations.
No formal budget votes were taken at the workshop; staff requested that council send additional questions to the city manager and assistant city manager for follow-up.
