Eau Claire council adopts 2026 budget package, approves $25 million capital program

The Eau Claire City Council voted unanimously Nov. 11 to adopt the city—s 2026 general fund, library and health department budgets and to approve the broader set of municipal budgets totaling roughly $98 million. Finance Director Amanda Winters presented the budgets, noting separate levies and the items that required council authorization.

Council also approved the 2026—2030 capital improvement plan and appropriated about $25 million in capital investments that will be financed through planned debt issuance. "We have $25,000,000 of capital investment that we—ll be issuing debt service on," Winters told the council while explaining the capital plan and the related bond intent resolution.

Vice President Worthman and other councilmembers emphasized that residents had expressed support for maintaining services rather than making deep cuts. Worthman said the public comments and outreach informed council deliberations and praised staff for incorporating neighborhood concerns into parking and operational plans.

Council approved a separate resolution authorizing an officer to declare official intent for federal income-tax reimbursement purposes so the city can reimburse certain capital expenditures from future bond proceeds if needed. Staff said they will return with bond-issuance details in 2026.