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Sedalia council reviews 2026 budget draft; fund balance projected near 57%
Summary
City staff presented the draft fiscal 2026 budget with revenue assumptions (4% sales/use tax, 2% property tax split), projected fund balance of about 57% and recommended priorities; council directed staff to keep a set of proposed items in the draft and will revisit remaining changes before adoption.
The Sedalia City Council met in a budget work session where the Assistant City Administrator presented the draft fiscal 2026 budget and a decision-tree spreadsheet showing what items are currently included or excluded and how changes would affect each fund.
The Assistant City Administrator said the draft assumes a 4% combined sales and use tax increase and a 2% increase in property tax; as presented the general fund would end the year with a fund balance of roughly 57% of operating expenditures, inside the city policy range of 35% to 75%. “As we go through this, despite the challenges outlined in the last presentation ... the proposed budget remains achievable,” the Assistant City Administrator said.
The presentation emphasized three long-term priorities: balancing revenues and expenses, tracking financial trends to maintain flexibility, and sustaining fund balances with a focus on the general fund. Staff noted last year’s fund-balance percentage was about 61% and that the city’s historical target has been near 65%.
Council members and department heads reviewed revenue and personnel assumptions line by line with an on-screen worksheet that allows individual items to be checked in or out to show the resulting fund balance. The Assistant City Administrator explained that some entries are displayed in two parts for spreadsheet flexibility (for example a 4% sales/use tax increase is shown as two 2% increments so council can uncheck one increment without removing the whole assumption).
Personnel items and market adjustments were discussed across departments: public safety step increases and market adjustments for police and fire; a part-time network systems position proposed to move to full time; building and code certification raises; and a request for a cemetery transition crew leader. Some personnel requests were included in the draft; others were deferred. Staff warned the council that many “difficult discussions and decisions” remain and asked for consensus on any changes.
The council scheduled further review: staff will provide a revised draft for the March 3 meeting and a public meeting is planned on March 17, with the goal of adopting the budget by the council meeting on March 17 unless additional time is required.
Votes at a glance: During the work session the council took voice votes on several budget-line motions (see the Votes at a glance box in this article). The council also directed staff to return with more detailed cost estimates for capital items that were discussed but not included.
The city manager and department heads remained available to answer technical questions; staff will present highlighted changes at the next review and will bring back any items council requests to revisit.
For now the council left the draft largely intact and asked staff to model any additional edits that members request before formal adoption.
