Council introduces 2026 city, transit and sanitary budgets; committee will review amendments before Oct. 6 adoption

The Muncie City Common Council on Sept. 8 introduced three ordinances that would set appropriations and tax rates for fiscal 2026: the city general fund (Ordinance 30‑25), the Muncie Indiana Transit System (MITS) budget (Ordinance 31‑25) and the Muncie Sanitary District budget (Ordinance 32‑25).

After introduction, the council voted to amend the budget ordinances to include supplemental forms (Form 1, Form 2, Form 3 and Form 4B) that were submitted by the administration after the original filing deadline. Council members and members of the public pressed for timely and complete packet delivery; several commenters said two weeks was insufficient time for public review. The finance committee will continue line‑by‑line review and plans a meeting Sept. 23 to develop recommendations ahead of the council’s Oct. 6 adoption deadline. If the council fails to adopt a budget before the state deadline, the municipality risks reverting to the 2025 budget.

Public comment at the hearing covered matters ranging from property tax burden to opioid settlement spending. Rick Yenser urged the council not to raise taxes and asked leaders to accelerate distribution of opioid settlement funds for services to people experiencing homelessness and substance use disorders. He also questioned use of the city’s building corporation for government projects. Sarah Vitale said she was concerned the administration had submitted a “bare bones” budget by the deadline and then provided many later amendments, and urged adherence to the budget once approved.

MITS general manager Amanda Price said the transit system’s ridership has been increasing since the COVID decline but that service expansion (including Sunday service) is limited by driver availability and facilities work; the budget contains capital items for facility improvements. The council and public discussed driver shortages, service hours and the need for long‑term plans to restore expanded operating hours.

The sanitary district financial manager, Dina Cox, attended and offered to answer questions; no substantive public opposition to the sanitary district budget was raised.

Council members noted the impact of state legislation (SB 1) on municipal hiring and budgeting and discussed a council desire for clearer, earlier packet publication and possibly a dedicated public information function to ensure transparency. The council will consider finance committee recommendations and amendments before final adoption at an October meeting; the administration must submit the final ordinance to the state by Nov. 1.