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Council adopts FY2025–26 budget; mill levy held steady and major park projects funded
Summary
The City Council adopted the FY2025–26 budget and appropriations ordinance, funding $82 million in capital projects, maintaining the city’s property tax request while lowering the mill levy, and adding staff positions and park projects including a major Island Oasis renovation.
The Grand Island City Council adopted the fiscal year 2025–26 budget and annual appropriations ordinance after presentations from city finance staff and extended council discussion.
City Administrator/Finance staff presented an overview showing the city’s 2025 valuation rose 8.1% compared with the prior year. Staff said the city’s property tax request (the total dollars requested) remains effectively unchanged from the prior year, and noted that because valuations rose the city’s mill levy decreases (the packet set out the proposed levy reductions). Staff projected sales tax for the coming year at about $29.7 million, a roughly 2% increase from the prior budget, and reported total capital improvement projects of about $82 million for FY26. Personnel costs were budgeted about 6.5% higher than FY25, reflecting negotiated union changes, reclassifications and a number of added positions.
Park and capital projects were a focus of council discussion. The adopted program includes a multi‑million dollar investment in a redesigned Island Oasis waterpark (packet materials indicated a $16 million project), with $4 million of cash identified in the FY26 plan and borrowing planned for the remainder; council and members of the public questioned timing, reserves and debt levels. Council directed staff to move forward on financing processes after adoption; staff said they will solicit financing bids and expect relatively quick turnaround on bond timing for projects where debt is required.
The adopted budget added several personnel items, including a police officer, 2.5 community service officers tied to animal control, a parks maintenance worker, an attorney position and five part‑time library positions (16 hours per week each). Staff also described reclassifications for finance, streets and utilities positions tied to the new budget classifications.
The council approved the budget ordinance (10‑033) by motion; multiple council members described the budget as the most important annual decision and debated the pace of using excess cash reserves and the size and timing of capital projects. The motion passed at the meeting.
