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Andover officials move to exceed revenue-neutral rate; 2026 budget presented for public comment
Summary
City staff presented the proposed 2026 budget and the council adopted a resolution to exceed the revenue-neutral rate, voting 6-0. Staff said work to close a $1.5 million gap included delaying purchases, revising pay-plans and drawing nearly $1 million in savings from a self-funded health plan.
The Andover City Council adopted a resolution to levy property taxes above the revenue-neutral rate on a 6-0 roll-call vote and opened a public hearing on the city’s proposed 2026 budget.
City Administrator Jennifer McCausland presented the budget process, saying the city intends to return the mill rate to 42.981 — the same mill rate used in 2024 — after staff removed nearly $366,000 of requested items and made changes elsewhere to close about a $1.5 million gap. “The promise I made to you a little less than a year ago was that we would get back to the 42.981 mill rate for 2026,” McCausland said.
The budget presentation explained choices staff and department heads made to reduce spending. Examples included delaying equipment purchases for parks, trimming travel and conference expenses, delaying one…
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