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Carmel council adopts 2026 budget after late-night vote; trims outside-legal pool
Summary
After hours of debate the Carmel Common Council approved the citys 2026 budget, adopting a compromise package that reduced proposed outside-legal funding and moved several line items; the final ordinance passed unanimously.
The Carmel Common Council approved the citys 2026 budget on Oct. 20 after a series of amendments that reworked outside-legal funding, arts and events support, and several departmental line items. The final appropriation ordinance, docketed as D27 85-25, passed 9-0.
City finance staff presented a revised package that the administration described as a compromise after weeks of council review. "With the modifications I mentioned, we would now be sitting at an annual surplus of $51,692," Zach (city staff member, finance) said during the presentation of the numbers.
The council adopted several changes during the discussion and amendment process. The highest-profile change reduced the proposed outside-legal appropriation: an initial request that had grown toward $600,000 was trimmed in stages and ultimately set at $350,000 after council amendments. That amendment passed 7-2. Councilors also moved…
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