Germantown board advances $211.3 million FY‑26 budget, proposes 29.13¢ property tax increase

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen of Germantown advanced the fiscal year 2026 budget on first reading Monday, approving a $211,300,000 spending plan that includes $78,700,000 in general‑fund expenditures and a recommended 29.13¢ increase to the property tax rate.

The budget proposal, presented by City Administrator Michael Heisman and Budget Director Adrian Royalls, would set a proposed tax rate of $1.79 per $100 of assessed value after the state‑required rollback and an additional 29.13¢ adjustment to support operational and capital priorities. "This plan covering the fiscal year ahead beginning July 1, represents one of the most important policy decisions the board will undertake this year," Heisman said during the presentation.

Administration said the FY‑26 plan is structurally balanced and grounded in the city’s Germantown Forward 2035 strategic plan. It prioritizes public safety, asset renewal, and infrastructure maintenance, and includes targeted investments such as park maintenance, pavement preservation, and continuing funding for the utility and enterprise funds. Director Adrian Royalls highlighted the multi‑year process that produced the proposal and said the general fund revenues…