Pataskala City reviews proposed 2026 budget, five-year forecast

Pataskala City officials met in a special session to review the proposed 2026 budget and a five‑year forecast. Finance staff presented revenue projections, fund allocations, staffing assumptions and capital‑project plans; council members asked for clarifications on pension assumptions, insurance costs and specific project funding. No formal vote on the budget was taken at the session; the meeting ended with a procedural adjournment vote.

The finance presentation said the city’s five‑year forecast "provides a comprehensive overview of the city's projected financial landscape for the period" and lays out six primary expense categories: salary‑related costs, contractual services, general operating, capital outlay, debt service and transfers. Staff proposed a 3% general salary increase for 2026 and assumed the same 3% placeholder for each subsequent year in the forecast, and reported a 19.5% projected increase in health‑insurance renewal rates for 2026.

Jennifer (finance staff) told council income tax revenue for…