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Dalton City council reviews $49.82 million proposed 2026 budget; adoption set for Nov. 17
Summary
City staff presented a proposed $49.82 million 2026 budget — a 7.5% increase — citing a 35% rise in health insurance costs, $2.1 million tied to a wage-study implementation and an anticipated $805,000 draw from fund balance; council set adoption for Nov. 17, 2025.
Dalton City leaders on Nov. 10, 2025 reviewed the proposed 2026 budget, a spending plan staff said totals $49.82 million and represents about a 7.5% increase over the 2025 budget. City staff outlined major cost drivers, recommended personnel changes and said the city plans to use roughly $805,000 from fund balance to balance the budget.
City administrator Andrew, who opened the hearing, summarized the budget process and told the council the city’s departments began preparing requests in mid‑August. "Our 2026 proposed budget has total expenditures of 49,820,000," he said, and then identified health insurance, a compensation and classification study and a proposed step‑and‑grade system for the fire department as primary cost pressures. Andrew said health‑benefit costs landed at about a 35% increase overall compared with 2025.
Finance director Cindy Jackson walked the council through revenue and expenditure detail, saying revenues are projected to rise about 5.8% — roughly $2.7 million — while…
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