Council approves technical amendments to the 2026–2027 budget with ERP item exception

The Committee of the Whole reviewed and approved administration technical amendments to the recommended biennial budget on Nov. 17, with one exception.

OBM director Walter summarized the changes he proposed from the third‑quarter report: a $917,315 surplus in the general fund for 2026 and a $1,258,006.86 surplus for 2027; $2,614,852 in current revenue adjustments driven by updated third‑quarter projections; and a series of expense adjustments. Walter identified roughly $4,600,000 in sheriff‑related technical adjustments tied to holiday work pay and differences in PRS and Medicare calculations.

On the revenue side OBM noted sales‑tax growth assumptions were conservative in the recommended budget (2.5 percent) while year‑to‑date sales taxes were running about 4.1 percent; Walter said he would wait for the state sales‑tax report before proposing any increase to the growth assumption.

Walter also said a roughly $1,170,000 ERP licensing item appeared unlikely to be required in 2026 because licensing costs would be paid under a later contract and that the line should be excluded for now. A motion to adopt the technical adjustments with that exception was made, seconded and approved by voice vote; the chair recorded "Aye" with no opposition and the motion carried.

Council directed staff and the director to work through the technical amendment language to incorporate the approved adjustments into the budget resolution and to circulate a recommended list of consensus amendments ahead of the next Committee of the Whole meeting.