Sunbury City finance staff presented the consolidated 2026 budget during the finance committee meeting on Nov. 19, saying the general fund is projected at $7,367,000 for 2026 and total funds at a little over $14,000,000.

Finance staff emphasized that although those figures are lower than the expected 2025 projections (about $8.8 million general fund; about $15 million total), longer‑term trends show growth since 2021. "We've got about a 25% increase overall from 2021," the presenter said, to reassure members the city is moving in a positive direction.

Key changes since the last draft include a $75,000 increase in the stormwater budget for a redirected catch basin at the reservoir and a transfer into special revenue fund 213 to cover selected wage costs from the general and sewer funds. Staff said they budgeted a 14–15% health insurance premium increase (rounded to 15% in the budget) based on renewal information, and put a 3% across‑the‑board raise amount into the plan as a budgeting assumption while noting individual merit adjustments can vary.

The presenter told the committee that the COVID relief fund must be spent in 2026 and that those funds are expected to be appropriated/encumbered next year for JR Smith Park.

On revenues and cash, staff reported about $22 million in cash and investments as of Sept. 30 and a book balance of roughly $23 million as of Oct. 31 after reconciling outstanding checks and identifying an $18,000 variance staff said it can detail on request. Income‑tax receipts are running ahead of expectations: staff projected income‑tax receipts will exceed the budget by about $200,000 (approximately $6.2 million actual versus $6.0 million budgeted).

What happens next: the consolidated budget overview was presented as the finance committee review and is scheduled for first reading before the City Council at its upcoming meeting. The committee did not take a final vote on the budget itself at this meeting.