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Lincoln Park holds public hearing on FY2025–26 budget; city manager flags court staffing and a planned 17% water-rate increase
Summary
At a public hearing, City Manager Lisa recapped the FY2025–26 budget, saying the city will use fund balance and that the 76% share of the regional court’s requested staffing increases could add about $2.2 million to the general fund; the proposed water/sewer rate increase in the draft budget is 17%.
City Manager Lisa summarized the fiscal year 2025–26 draft budget at a public hearing before the Lincoln Park City Council on May 20, saying the plan projects general-fund revenues of about $28.0 million and expenditures about $29.0 million and would use roughly $664,875 of fund balance.
Lisa told council that the regional court has submitted an updated budget request that includes additional staff and pay increases. "Right now it’s estimated approximately $2,200,000 increase to our general fund for our portion," she said, adding the city pays 76% of the overall court budget. She said that higher court spending would increase Lincoln Park’s general-fund burden.
Lisa also said the draft includes a 17% increase to water and sewer rates and that she placed that projected increase in the budget “because right now that is what's projected for the needs of the water and sewer fund.” She told council the final budget will be adopted at the council’s first June meeting after any needed adjustments.
The public hearing drew no public speakers on the budget, and the council closed the hearing and moved to the consent agenda. Council members were advised that some line items still require adjustment before formal adoption and that staff will distribute the proposed changes before the adoption meeting.
Why it matters: The court budget request and the draft water-rate increase are the largest near-term budget pressures flagged by staff. If adopted as presented, both will affect residential and commercial taxpayers and utility customers in the coming fiscal year.
What’s next: Lisa said she will circulate the specific budget changes before the council’s adoption meeting in June; council is scheduled to vote on the budget at that later meeting.
