Alpharetta Council reviews FY2026 budget forecast, discusses occupational tax and capital shortfall

City staff presented an abbreviated preview of the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget and the city council held a workshop discussion on revenue constraints, millage structure and possible changes to the city's occupational tax.

At a May work session, Finance Director Tom Harris briefed the council on high-level figures for FY2026 and on options to preserve capital funding while holding the overall millage rate steady. "We were able to produce a budget on May 5 and put it on our financial transparency site and the City's website," Harris said as he ran through slides not visible to the public viewers that evening.

The presentation placed the total city budget at about $162,000,000 and described the general fund at roughly $100,900,000 compared with about $103,600,000 the prior year; staff said the total is lower than last year largely because of differences in how prior-year fund balance and one-time receipts were recognized. Harris told the council the budget projects only about 1.8% growth in operating revenues,…