Augusta adopts revised 2026 budget; estimated mill levy falls to 58.227 amid public concern over taxes and staffing

Augusta — The Augusta City Council on Sept. 15 adopted a revised 2026 budget that reduces the city's general-fund cash reserve from $950,000 to $750,000 and sets an estimated mill levy of 58.227, city staff told the council during the meeting at City Council Chambers.

The adopted revision keeps four additional police officer positions requested earlier this year and uses $200,000 in carryover to help cover those costs, City Manager Josh Shaw said. "We don't set the mill levy. We set the amount of property tax dollars," Shaw told council members while explaining the change in the budget certificate and its effect on the mill levy estimate.

The move matters for homeowners: using 2023 census figures and the city's calculator, staff told the council that on a median home value of $162,000 (taxable value shown as $18,653), the change from last year's levy to the new estimate works out to about $2.75 per month — roughly $33 per year — for that median home.

Why it matters: council members said the options…