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Hampton to take public input on next fiscal year budget; manager outlines process and timeline
Summary
City manager invited residents to participate in public budget input opportunities and outlined the manager's recommended budget release and council hearing schedule.
City staff invited public input on the fiscal year 2026 budget process and outlined a timeline that leads to the council’s final vote in May.
The city manager said the administration will hold in-person and virtual opportunities for public comment and will provide online polling so residents can prioritize budget items and weigh revenue options. The manager emphasized that staff want residents’ input before the manager’s recommended budget is finalized and said all feedback will be shared with council at its March 26 work session.
Key dates announced on the record: the city manager said the manager’s recommended budget will be released in mid-April and that council’s public hearings on the manager’s recommended budget will be April 23 and May 7, with final adoption scheduled for May 14. Staff also noted that in-person sessions and a virtual Facebook Live discussion will be scheduled and that online polling will be available on hampton.gov; the agenda packet and the city website have the full schedule and participation details.
Why it matters: Participation at the input sessions informs staff priorities and the manager’s recommended budget, which sets the city’s spending plan for the next fiscal year. The manager flagged federal and state funding issues and unfunded mandates as drivers of the budget conversation and said the sessions will include discussion of possible real estate tax rate changes and fees for wastewater, stormwater and solid waste.
What the record shows: The manager encouraged in-person attendance to compare priorities with other residents, and said results of the public engagement will be included in staff’s budget recommendations to council.
