Beloit council adopts 2026 operating budget after public concern about line-item increases
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Summary
Council approved the city's 2026 operating budget, capital improvement plan and library appropriation by voice vote after a presentation of the budget process and a public comment criticizing large percentage increases for certain administrative budget lines.
The Beloit City Council approved the city's 2026 operating budget, including the 2026 capital improvement program and the Beloit Public Library appropriation, by voice vote on the evening the council met to consider final adoption. Councilor Terrell moved to adopt the resolution to approve and levy the property tax necessary for the city's operations; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
City staff told the council the budget had been developed across workshops beginning in spring, a public workshop in October, and a public hearing on Oct. 20 before being presented for action. A staff presenter said the packet before council represented a balanced budget and noted the statutory step that authorizes the city clerk/treasurer to allocate the city property tax and apportionments certified for other jurisdictions on the current tax roll.
Before the vote, resident Prisha Gastina used the public comment period to criticize the draft budget printed in local news coverage, calling out what she characterized as unusually large percentage increases for senior administrative lines. In her prepared remarks she said she was "not happy" and cited a line in the published budget showing the city manager amount increasing from "435.5 to $5.00 8, which is a 16.8% increase," and she also questioned an increase shown for the city attorney. Gastina warned of potential property tax impacts and urged greater public scrutiny of the package.
Councilors and staff responded during their reports by noting the multi-month process that led to the final document, the availability of workshops and hearings, and that staff had provided explanations of notable changes during budget workshops. The council's voice vote approved the budget; councilors did not request a roll-call tally in the meeting record.
The resolution approved the overall operating and capital plan for 2026 and the administration is authorized to carry out ministerial steps to implement the levy and allocations as certified on the current tax roll.
