Alpharetta council reviews $162 million FY2026 budget, flags fire-truck lease and EV charger investments

Director Harris, the city’s presenting director for the budget, opened a June 2 work session with a high-level review of the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, saying the total package is about $162,000,000 and that departments will return for public hearings on June 16 and June 23.

The budget matters because it sets the city’s operating priorities, capital projects and the staffing and service levels for the next year. Harris told council the package assumes modest revenue growth, relies on roughly $5 million in carry-forward fund balance for capital and includes $214,500 set aside for new operating initiatives.

Harris said the general fund transfer to capital in the proposal is $2,262,000 and that debt service is roughly $6.6 million this year. He described revenue pressures that limit growth: the floating homestead exemption (which caps residential growth at the lesser of CPI or 3%), a one percent contraction projected on commercial values, slow hotel-motel growth compared with pre-pandemic…