Salisbury holds public hearings on FY26 budget; council cites PFAS treatment costs in 6% water and sewer rate increase

The Salisbury City Council on June 2 opened public hearings on three fiscal year 2026 budget ordinances — Ordinance Nos. 2935, 2936 and 2937 — and heard a string of residents’ concerns about rising utility and fee costs.

City staff presented Ordinance No. 2935 as the main budget appropriation ordinance for July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026; Ordinance No. 2936 would raise water and sewer rates by 6% effective for bills dated Oct. 1, 2025, and Ordinance No. 2937 would set miscellaneous city fees for FY26. "This is an ordinance appropriating the necessary funds for the operation of the government and administration of the city of Salisbury for the period of 07/01/2025 to 06/30/2026," the staff presenter said during the hearing on Ordinance No. 2935.

Why it matters: dozens of residents described the cumulative effect of utility, trash and stormwater increases on households, especially people on fixed incomes, and urged the council to consider alternatives before finalizing the budget. Council leaders repeatedly said the city faces unusually large capital and operating costs for water…