Council Hears Final Public Presentation of CityManager's Proposed FYE26 Budget; Adoption Set for June 10

The City of Norman held a second formal public hearing May 27 on the city manager's proposed budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and heard a public presentation from Kim Kaufman, the city's budget manager. Kaufman said total projected revenues across all funds are $316,899,864 and projected total expenditures are $295,251,765; the council set final adoption for 2 p.m. June 10 in council chambers.

The proposal, Kaufman told the council, treats the budget as a policy document as well as a financial plan. She said general fund projected revenues for FY2026 are in the neighborhood of $107,119,578 and projected general fund expenditures $111,222,714, with police, fire and public works accounting for the largest shares of general fund spending.

The budget presentation included fund-level breakdowns Kaufman summarized to the council: general sales tax comprises the single largest revenue source across funds, internal charges and franchise taxes are other significant revenue streams, and public safety represents the largest expenditure category overall. The council opened the public hearing by unanimous vote, received public comments, and then closed the hearing by unanimous vote.

Members of the public who spoke during the hearing raised questions about the city's sales-tax reliance and the city's emergency and rainy-day reserves, and asked about outreach and capital priorities. Kaufman and staff said the packet and supporting documents will be attached to the agenda and reissued so the public can review the material before the June 10 adoption vote.

The meeting record shows the public hearing was opened and closed by unanimous council votes. The council may adopt, amend or reject the proposed budget at the June 10 meeting; no final adoption occurred on May 27.