Jupiter council reviews preliminary fiscal 2026 operating budget; police contract figures not yet included

The Town of Jupiter's council and staff on Wednesday reviewed the town's preliminary operating budget for fiscal year 2026, with staff noting the police contract negotiation remains unsettled and its cost is not yet reflected in the draft.

Councilors and staff said the budget relies on current ad valorem projections and on planned use of reserves to fund the full-year implementation of Jupiter Fire Rescue. The council discussed a proposed market-driven 5% salary adjustment for town employees and seven recommended new full-time positions, and reviewed reserve balances and timing for TRIM and public hearings.

Why it matters: The operating budget sets the town's service level and tax posture for the coming fiscal year. Councilors emphasized that without the finalized police labor agreement they cannot yet treat staffing and total public-safety costs as final, and that use of reserves to start fire-rescue operations will materially change the town's available fund balance.

Most important facts

- Police contract: Multiple council members and Town Manager Kitzaro said the police union negotiations are ongoing and the “police budget is not updated to reflect the in-progress contract negotiations.” The administration said the town has offered a substantial package but the final costs remain pending and are not included in the current budget numbers.

- Revenue assumptions: Staff presented an early planning estimate showing a 6.558% increase in taxable values and a projected gross ad valorem increase of roughly $2.6 million for FY26 (including CRA allocations). The presentation estimated the general fund would receive just over $34 million, an increase over FY25 of about $2.1 million (staff noted these figures will be updated when the property appraiser certifies the roll on July 1 and TRIM opens).

- Reserves and use of funds: Staff reported an audited beginning general fund balance of about $54.9 million and projected an ending balance of roughly $35.4 million after planned transfers to fund Jupiter Fire Rescue and related capital; staff said some year-end underspending typically raises that beginning balance in practice.

- Compensation: Staff recommended a 5% salary adjustment across employees to remain competitive. Mayor Kuretsky and several councilors urged splitting adjustments into a cost-of-living (COLA) and merit component (for example, 3% COLA and 2% merit) to preserve pay differentiation for performance.

- New positions and operating pressures: The budget includes seven new non-fire positions (project manager, inspector, service worker/technician, procurement manager, utility engineering technician and others) for an estimated $938,000 in salaries, benefits and equipment; staff said the hires respond to expanded capital project workloads and inspection needs.

Quotes from the meeting

- “The police budget is not updated to reflect the in-progress contract negotiations,” Mayor Kuretsky said, noting the council had been briefed on the offer.

- Town Manager Kitzaro said of the negotiations: “The town has offered a very substantial, and very significant, employment package to…our police officers,” and that the offer would likely increase police costs materially once finalized.

- On compensation, a councilor said: “I think a 5% increase would definitely show, or keep us in the competitive market going forward.”

Discussion versus decisions

- Discussion: Councilors and staff discussed revenue sensitivity (especially state-shared and interest revenues), the timing effects of hiring new staff late in the fiscal year, and potential volatility in enterprise funds driven by chemical costs and FPL rates.

- Direction/assignment: Council members asked staff to return updated numbers after the July 1 TRIM certification and to provide one-on-one briefings on departmental budget drivers where percentage changes exceed expectations.

- Formal decisions: No final votes or budget adopts occurred at the workshop; staff presented the preliminary budget and outlined the schedule for TRIM, public hearings and a second workshop on the community investment plan.

What comes next: Staff will receive the certified tax roll July 1, the council will set a tentative millage rate on July 15 and hold public hearings in September. Councilors were asked to submit any requested operating-budget changes well ahead of the first public hearing.

Ending: The presentation returns to the council for further review and detailed follow-up as TRIM numbers and the police contract become finalized.