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Springfield mayor unveils FY26 budget outlook, asks departments for 3% cuts amid $24M gap
Summary
Mayor Sarno and city finance leaders told department heads that the FY26 city budget faces a roughly $24 million gap and federal funding uncertainty, and asked departments to propose 3% cuts focused on OTPS and vacant positions while protecting direct resident services.
Mayor Sarno opened Springfield City’s FY26 budget hearings by telling department and cabinet heads the administration is preparing for federal funding uncertainty and a tighter fiscal year. He said the city receives about $55,000,000 in federal funding and the school system about $75,000,000—figures he said could be at risk as federal priorities change. "When you look upon that, that's a hundred and $30,000,000 that possibly could come off of a nearly $1,000,000,000 budget," the mayor said.
Chief Administrative and Financial Officer Kathy Bunnell told departments the FY26 requested budgets on the table are level-service requests that do not yet reflect the mayor's requested 3% reduction. "At…
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