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Belgrade council accepts preliminary FY2026 operating budget with 5% salary increase
Summary
The Belgrade City Council unanimously accepted a preliminary FY2026 operating budget that includes a 5% general salary increase, a new public works superintendent position with a truck, and revenue estimates tied to a projected 6% rise in taxable value.
The Belgrade City Council voted unanimously to accept a preliminary operating budget for fiscal year 2026 after a public hearing and staff presentation. Charity, the city finance staff member who presented the plan, said the proposal covers required operations, adds a public works superintendent position and a vehicle, and “includes a salary increase of 5% unless otherwise contracted.”
Charity told the council the revenue estimate is based on a 6% increase in taxable value and a 2.11% inflation adjustment and “would be an additional $149,000 worth of revenue.” She said the calculated change would amount to about 4.88 mills or roughly $6.59 per $100,000 of assessed value under the current assumptions.
The presentation noted accounting and reporting changes that affect how mill-levy revenue is shown: the public safety mill levy will now be recorded directly in the general fund, which makes the general fund tax line look larger than previous years even though actual operational change is more modest. Charity also described changes to library funding: rather than earmarking a portion of the general mill levy or a fixed share of state entitlement revenue for the library, the city will transfer what the library requires from the general fund at year-end.
Planning department revenues were described as a significant pressure point: plan-review revenue has come in at about 40% of what was budgeted, prompting the city to remove the planning permit technician position to help offset the shortfall; Charity said planning’s budget is heavily salary-driven and has limited discretionary spending.
Charity also said the urban renewal (TIF) fund is planning to use tax increment revenue to purchase property at 301 West Main Street, with an estimated cost of about $465,000 listed as the only currently planned expense in that fund.
Councilmember Simon asked whether the preliminary numbers could change before the final budget; Charity replied that final changes depend on the county’s certified assessed values and that any substantive changes would be highlighted in later budget presentations.
Councilmember Simon moved to accept the preliminary FY2026 operating budget; Councilmember Minicucci seconded the motion and it passed by unanimous voice vote. The council will review a final budget later in the budget process after county valuations and other adjustments are finalized.
