GROVE CITY, Ohio — The mayor and city administration on Thursday presented a draft 2026 appropriation ordinance and a high-level budget overview to the Grove City Finance Committee, forecasting modest revenue growth but notable increases in personnel and insurance costs.

The presentation, given at a public special meeting of the Finance Committee, said the city projects a 2.4% increase in revenue for 2026 and that roughly 80% of the general fund is financed by income-tax collections. "We are projecting a 2.4% increase," the mayor said, adding that past projections from the city’s income-tax analyst have been reliable.

The draft appropriation request totals about $60 million, administration staff said; operating expenses are estimated at roughly $45 million. The mayor singled out two expense drivers: health-insurance premiums, which he said increase $742,000 for 2026, and police personnel costs, which he said are up about $400,000. Overall salaries and benefits were described as rising by about $2 million and contractual services by about $1 million.

Why it matters: The appropriation ordinance is a required step in the city’s budget process and — as the mayor noted — is handled differently under the city charter; he said it is the ordinance the mayor must submit and that it cannot be vetoed. The committee will see a final appropriation package on Nov. 17; the ordinance is due to the county by Nov. 15.

Administration projected an estimated year-end unencumbered general-fund balance of about $11.04 million for 2026 under the draft assumptions, while also noting the city expects to begin 2026 with an approximate fund balance in the high teens of millions. The administration said it strives to maintain at least three months of operating reserves and currently projects it will remain within that benchmark.

The mayor and staff listed several large capital and development items that could affect future budgets, including a community center, the I‑71 overpass project, the Broadway Live (sometimes referenced as the development at the former Sheddinger site) infrastructure requests and the Town Center Park. On Broadway Live, staff said council previously approved a resolution pledging up to $6.5 million in infrastructure support; a recent developer letter requested the city bond an additional $3 million for Cleveland Avenue improvements and to defer debt service until year four. The mayor said the administration’s 2026 budget includes funding to purchase property appraised at about $1.3 million related to that project, but that no debt-service payments on the additional $3 million are included in the 2026 appropriation.

The draft also includes recurring program support the mayor highlighted: $150,000 for the Southwestern Career Academy and adult workforce program and an ongoing allocation for the Helping Hands program; staff estimated the city has spent about $50,000 on Helping Hands so far.

On other revenues, administration projected hotel‑motel tax receipts near $650,000 for 2026, about a 7–8% increase over 2025 and in line with Franklin County trends, and recommended leaving hotel‑motel revenues blank in the initial appropriation language so council can allocate those dollars later.

Transit and other service notes: The city’s COTA Plus transit agreement currently covers service through late spring; the administration said it expects its share for next year to drop from this year’s roughly $584,000 toward an estimated $300,000 because of Link Us funding shifts, but cautioned negotiations on weekend or extended service remain unresolved.

Public access and next steps: Committee members and the mayor invited additional public input at upcoming council meetings; the budget timeline shared by staff includes final council reviews on Nov. 17, Dec. 1 and Dec. 15, the latter being the final opportunity to pass the budget for 2025’s tax year accounting. Council Chair Holt and the mayor encouraged the public to use those meetings to ask department-level questions.

"For an accuracy standpoint, we're at least 90%...in what our projections are," the mayor said during the presentation.

Ending: Council did not vote on the appropriation ordinance at the special meeting. Staff asked committee members to raise any additional items before the Nov. 17 council meeting, when the administration will deliver a final appropriation ordinance and detailed departmental budgets for committee and public review.