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Fort Thomas council holds first reading of 2025–26 budget amid public calls for audit and greater transparency
Summary
City leaders presented a $16.5 million general-fund budget for fiscal 2025–26 and heard extended public comment pressing for publication of recent audits and clearer budget materials. Council scheduled further finance discussions and left the budget on first reading.
Mayor Eric Cost presented the city's proposed fiscal 2025'26 budget at the Fort Thomas City Council meeting and the council conducted a first reading of the ordinance adopting the budget while members and residents pressed for clearer audit publication and more timely public posting of budget materials.
The budget message, read by Cost, projects general-fund operating revenues of $16,543,773 and operating expenditures of $16,530,798 and says the city has budgeted $8,146,227 in capital projects "which will be funded by our reserve fund balance." Cost added the city has spent over $10 million from reserves in the past two years on Tower Park Playground and the Midway Streetscape and signaled council will discuss whether to seek a tax increase in coming months.
The exchange followed extended public comments from residents who said the city's audit and budget documents are not consistently published online. Jim Ferris, a resident, cited text he found in the…
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