Cleveland council adopts FY2025–26 budget, sets 0.63 tax rate and approves fee changes including airport hangar bump

The Cleveland City Council on Sept. 16 adopted the fiscal year 2025–26 municipal budget and related measures, set a total property tax rate of $0.63 per $100 of assessed valuation, and approved a series of operational fee changes and administrative actions.

The council approved the budget, which officials said incorporated adjustments made since the August presentation, by a 5–0 vote. Council members also ratified the property‑tax rate reflected in the budget and then separately set the maintenance‑and‑operations and debt‑service components used to arrive at a total tax rate of $0.63 per $100.

Why it matters: The adopted package includes a 10% increase in city water and sewer rates (part of the master fee schedule), a $50 monthly increase to airport hangar rents (included in the master fee schedule and backed by the airport advisory board’s recommendation), and a fee change that raises event security pay to $50 per hour for alcohol‑serving events (the cost is passed to renters). Those changes affect resident utility bills, airport tenants and renters of city facilities.

Key council and staff comments

Pam Harrison, city finance staff, reviewed changes to the budget since the August proposal and answered council questions about certified excess tax collections and how those affect the debt service calculation. Harrison said recent corrections and certifications to the tax worksheet increased the amount of excess collections available this year and that part of those funds would be used in the fiscal plan.

Council members repeatedly described the budget season as difficult but said they appreciated staff work and cooperation across departments. The mayor and several council members…