Commission approves preliminary 2026 budget; two commissioners dissent over public review time

The City Commission approved the preliminary fiscal-year budget, which staff presented as a balanced general-fund plan with $140,287,211 in revenues and matching expenses. The city manager said operating expenses rose by about 1.53 percent and that personnel costs account for roughly 75 percent of the budget. Staff asked the commission to set the preliminary budget and schedule a public hearing on the final budget for Sept. 15, 2025, at 5:05 p.m.

The mayor and department heads summarized changes since the budget workshop and described the adopted preliminary numbers as the maximum revenue authority the city may seek (the “3% plus growth” standard noted by staff). The manager also emphasized that property taxes make up about 33 percent of the city’s revenue mix and that the public-safety sales tax contributes approximately 4 percent of total revenues.

Commissioner Kolpak praised staff for containing overall operating growth and for the thoroughness of department materials. Commissioner Strand said he was pleased the budget protected services such as airport funding and arts support and called the budget a pragmatic balance. Commissioner Pepcorn objected to approving the preliminary budget the same day it was released to the public (released at noon and voted on roughly five hours later), arguing the public and commissioners needed more time to review; she said she would vote no. Commissioner Turnberg also said the timing made him uncomfortable and voted no. Commissioner Mahoney voted in favor.

The motion to approve the preliminary budget passed on roll call despite the two no votes. Staff reiterated that the preliminary adoption sets the maximum allowable revenue for the budget process and that additional changes may be proposed before the final hearing in September.