Gulfport presents proposed FY2026 budget; residents press for housing, policing and transparency

City officials presented a draft FY2026 budget to the Gulfport City Council and members of the public at a special-called meeting that included a public hearing on the plan. Joseph D'Alto, identified in the meeting as the city's Director of Finance, walked councillors and residents through fund-by-fund projections and capital lists, stressing that the document was a draft for discussion and that no adoption vote would be taken that night.

D'Alto said the FY2026 draft shows a projected net surplus of $408,000 after estimated amendments to FY2025, with an anticipated beginning general-fund balance of roughly $17 million and a proposed transfer of $1,500,000 from the claims-contingency/internal-service fund into the general fund to yield an ending balance near $19,351,000 (equivalent to about three months of operating expense). He outlined enterprise and special-revenue funds, noting about $23,000,000 budgeted for water…