Decatur City Council considers FY2026 budget ordinance as residents raise questions about Red Sage, mayor/council increases and police COLA

Councilmember Pye moved, seconded by Councilmember Pepper, to consider Ordinance 25-46-16 to adopt Decatur City's fiscal year 2026 budget beginning Oct. 1, 2025. The motion was taken up during the council meeting; the transcript does not record a roll-call vote on the ordinance.

Why it matters: The proposed budget, described by council members as exceeding $100 million, funds city operations for fiscal year 2026 and includes line-item increases that drew public questions about priorities, transparency and staffing costs.

A resident who identified themselves during the public-comment period asked how citizens can access the budget's P2 list and questioned several line-item increases, saying in part: "How is it that the largest increase in the budget for this year is the mayor and the council line item?" The speaker…