Kevin Singh, the city’s director of finance, presented the capital highlights of the draft FY2026 budget at the City of Joliet pre-council meeting on Dec. 1. Singh said the capital plan includes just under $23.5 million for roads and sidewalks, representing roughly 43 lane miles of new road work. He also described a $7,000,000 allocation for a public safety institute in partnership with JJC and vehicle and equipment purchases including two pumper trucks (about $2.4 million) and a $225,000 technical response vehicle.

Singh summarized sewer and water capital work, including continued water main replacements, nearly $28,000,000 programmed for improvements to accept Lake Michigan water and approximately $38,000,000 budgeted toward the city’s contribution to the Grand Prairie Water Commission. He said the city funds water capital through utility-rate revenues, grants and a combination of loans and bonds, including low-interest loans through the Illinois EPA.

On revenues and totals, Singh said the comprehensive budget is “just shy of $650,000,000,” with a general fund of about $222,000,000. Major revenue sources he cited included $81,000,000 in sales taxes, $33,600,000 from state-shared taxes and replacement tax, $17,000,000 for refuse billing and $14,500,000 in ambulance service fees. The fire and police capital requests include equipment and a continued drone and ballistic protection program for police.

Singh urged councilmembers to schedule one-on-one meetings for project-level briefings. He reminded the council that a public hearing on the budget is required by statute and is scheduled for Dec. 2; he said the council could still change the draft after that hearing and may consider adoption on Dec. 16.

Council members pressed staff for more detail on sidewalk funding and asked whether sidewalk spending could be doubled from recent annual levels (council members referenced prior sidewalk spending of roughly $1.2–$1.4 million). Singh said the proposed budget structure would allow the council to allocate up to $5,000,000 for sidewalks if it so chose. Council members also asked staff to review weed and landscape maintenance; Singh confirmed at least $200,000 has been allocated for that purpose.

Next steps: the city will hold the public hearing on Dec. 2 and may return to consider adoption on Dec. 16.