Brandon council approves budget, agrees to election-timing changes, and signs multiple infrastructure and settlement agreements

The Brandon City Council approved the city’s annual budget and took a series of other routine and project actions at its meeting. Key council actions included a first reading related to municipal election timing under new state law, adoption of the 2026 budget ordinance, acceptance of additional opioid settlement funds, and approval of contracts and pay applications for multiple street, drainage and utility projects.

Christina (city clerk/finance staff) explained that the state Legislature passed House Bill 1130, effective Jan. 1, 2026, which prohibits April municipal elections; the city moved to adopt an ordinance to shift municipal elections to November. The ordinance received a first reading; the staff noted the bill also extends current terms so no immediate vacancies would result.

The council adopted Ordinance 743, approving the city budget for the coming year. Councilmembers then approved the city’s participation in two additional National Opioid Settlement agreements with manufacturers named in the settlements (transcript references included Alvogen and Purdue as parties associated with settlement…