Johnston City adopts FY2026 budget, authorizes police staffing increase

Johnston City Council on Monday adopted the fiscal year 2026 budget after a public hearing and approved related resolutions that set the tax levy and authorize several transfers, and the council voted to permit the police department to increase its authorized sworn staffing to 38 officers.

The council approved Resolution 25-117 adopting the FY2026 budget and the tax levy; a separate motion granted the police department authority to expand sworn staffing to 38 officers effective with the FY2026 budget. The council also approved Resolution 25-118 confirming public-purpose findings for economic development, arts and culture, and Resolution 25-119 approving transfers included in the adopted budget.

City Administrator Mike opened the public hearing, calling it “the public hearing on our proposed FY 2026 fiscal budget.” Finance Director Sarah, whom staff and council praised during the meeting, described the budget as “the most important document we have,” and reviewed drivers behind increases in the proposed spending, including rising costs for patrol vehicles and major fire apparatus. Sarah told the council the budget incorporates a modest increase that remains below national inflationary rates, and she highlighted departmental efficiency measures that reduced pressure on the levy: converting some sworn positions to civilian roles in police, shared fire district leadership with a neighboring jurisdiction, reassessing fleet purchases, and energy-saving solar projects for city facilities.

Sarah outlined several revenue challenges tied to recent state policy changes, including the phaseout of commercial property tax backfill and reductions tied to multi-residential rollback, which she said together account for roughly $712,000 in lost revenue and equate to about a $0.40 impact on the levy rate. The budget projects a total ending fund balance of about $61.1 million across city funds, with a projected general-fund ending balance of about $9.1 million and an operating reserve near the city policy target of 25 percent. She also noted six new positions in the budget: city clerk, two police officers, two firefighter-paramedics, and one public-works traffic maintenance position.

Council members asked for clarity on what parts of the package required motions versus resolutions; staff explained the increase in authorized police positions was handled by motion rather than a resolution. No members of the public addressed the council during the hearing. After discussion, the council voted to adopt the budget and passed the related resolutions and motions by recorded votes.

Looking ahead, staff noted capital investments included in the budget’s CIP—major street and stormwater projects, water and sewer extensions, acquisition and installation of city hall solar, and park trail work—alongside programmatic items such as expanded senior programming and library space-needs assessments. The council and staff emphasized that the budget reflects both constrained revenue from state actions and internal efficiency efforts to protect core services.

The vote: Resolutions 25-117, 25-118 and 25-119 were approved and the motion to authorize police staffing to 38 sworn officers passed during the meeting.