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Lebanon council adopts 2026 budget, freezes raises and OKs two additional police appropriations
Summary
The council adopted the 2026 appropriation and tax-rate ordinance, approved salary ordinances and passed two additional appropriations for police operations and for the Child Advocacy Center. Council members agreed to a temporary pay freeze for elected officials and civilian employees while prioritizing tax relief and infrastructure needs.
Lebanon City Council on Oct. 27 adopted the city's 2026 budget and a package of ordinances and resolutions that set salaries and add modest appropriations for police operations and a child-advocacy contract.
Budget and major votes - Ordinance 2025-36 (2026 budget and tax rates): Council adopted the appropriations and tax-rate ordinance that sets the city-wide total budget at $34,664,353 for 2026. The clerk read fund-by-fund totals during the meeting and staff confirmed the filing will be completed with the Department of Local Government and Finance. - Ordinance 2025-34 (salaries / longevity): Adopted. The ordinance sets base salaries and a $75-per-year longevity schedule for full-time civilian employees (with a different longevity calculation for police and firefighters) and lists departmental wage totals in the budget. - Ordinance 2025-35 (elected officials): Adopted. The ordinance fixes salaries for elected officials effective Jan. 1, 2026 (mayor, clerk-treasurer and council). Council noted that this represents a pay freeze compared with the prior year.
Additional appropriations - Resolution 2025-32 (general fund police operating): The council approved a $58,000 additional appropriation out of the general fund for police operating needs (fuel $30,000; tires $13,000; vehicle repairs $10,000; misc $5,000). The required public hearing was held and there were no public comments. - Resolution 2025-33 (LIT public-safety fund): The council approved a $20,000 additional appropriation from the Local Income Tax (public safety) fund to pay the Sylvia Lynn Child Advocacy Center for services. The police chief was not present due to an emergency; council members explained the appropriation supports contracted advocacy services.
Council discussion Mayor and councilors emphasized the budget's constraints after legislative changes and described the adopted package as a compromise that prioritizes tax relief while maintaining core services. The mayor acknowledged a temporary pay freeze is undesirable for employees but framed it as a one-time response to current fiscal conditions; council members signaled support for monitoring revenues and restoring increases when sustainable.
Votes at a glance - Ordinance 2025-36 (2026 budget): adopted (voice vote). - Ordinance 2025-34 (salary ordinance): adopted (voice vote). - Ordinance 2025-35 (elected officials salaries): adopted (voice vote); mayor noted this was a pay freeze versus last year. - Resolution 2025-32 (additional appropriation, general fund, police ops): adopted (public hearing held; no public comment). - Resolution 2025-33 (additional appropriation, LIT public-safety, child advocacy): adopted.
What's next Staff will file required budget forms with state authorities and follow up with council on bond closings and infrastructure agreements tied to development approvals. Council set its next meeting for Nov. 10 at 7:15 p.m.
