North Canton committee reviews 2026 budget, forwards rates, personnel and ordinance items to council

The Committee of the Whole of the North Canton City Council met Oct. 6 and heard a multi-department presentation on the proposed 2026 budget, then voted to forward several budget items, rates and an ordinance-title amendment to the full council for action.

Finance and department presenters told the committee the general fund carries about six months of operating reserves and the water fund about eight months. A finance presenter summarized the citys near-term cash-flow issue from switching revenue sources: the new 2% income tax will ultimately replace prior property-tax revenue, but the committee was told the city expects about $555,000 less in collections in 2026 than the property taxes previously produced because full-year collections of the new tax will not arrive until later years. The presenters characterized that difference as a timing issue rather than a structural shortfall.

The presenters described several large capital and personnel items in the 2026 plan: a new fire station (the largest single capital component), a $2.4 million police-department renovation including HVAC work, $145,000 for two police vehicles, dispatch equipment costs (year 3 of a multi-year lease), and an $14.2 million allocation for fire/EMS capital. Street paving projects noted for next year include West Maple and Ninth Street, with a city share leveraged by grants. The presenters said the city continues to pursue ODOT, Ohio Public Works Commission and SCATS (Stark County metropolitan planning) grant funds to stretch local dollars.

On personnel, the presenters said the budget restores a previously cut third-shift fire position (described as a 24-hour shift equivalent) and adds one code-enforcement position to address a backlog of rental inspections. Staff noted the citys rental-registration program, introduced in 2023, will generate roughly 1,300 inspections coming due under three-year licenses in 2026. Presenters described the municipal workforce as about 150 employees total, of which roughly 115 are full-time.

Presenters also summarized fund-balance policy context. They said the city adopted a general-fund minimum target balance of 25%, and that credit rater S&P Global had previously recommended maintaining a 40% carryover. Presenters said the city currently expects a roughly 48% carryover figure in the near term, helped by recent economic development and business openings.

Committee members praised the budget process as more organized and proactive than in prior years, and staff answered questions about the timing of debt payments and the 27-pay-year payroll anomaly that will affect personnel costs next year.

Following the presentation, the committee voted by voice to forward several items to the Oct. council agenda, including multiple budget/rates items and an ordinance-title amendment renaming the director role in code. The committee then adjourned.

Votes at a glance: the committee made voice votes forwarding the listed agenda items to the full council; recorded votes were a voice "Aye" on each motion and no named dissent was recorded in the transcript.