Canton’s finance director presented the proposed FY2026 budget on July 3, outlining a plan the city calls both balanced and designed to deliver a property tax reduction while funding a substantial capital program.

Ryan Luckett told the council the proposed budget includes a reduction in the millage rate from 5.40 to 5.25 mills (a net tax cut rather than a rollback adjustment), which officials said will allow the city to forgo the public hearings normally required for millage increases. The all‑funds budget total presented was roughly $94.7 million, with about $41.8 million earmarked for capital investment across water and sewer, parks and transportation projects.

Luckett summarized key items: a proposed 2.5% cost‑of‑living adjustment for employees plus anniversary step increases, three new positions (net increase of two), and a capital improvement program that includes pedestrian bridge projects, South Park construction, and water‑system infrastructure. He noted proposed funding sources as a mix of SPLOST, impact fees and grants, and said the budget book will be posted on the city website. Staff set a public hearing for July 17 and tentatively scheduled budget adoption (and millage adoption) for August 7.

The presentation also covered the general fund (police and fire representing significant shares of the budget), hotel/motel and rental car tax recommendations (including tourism transfers), and structural accounting changes staff said would better allocate indirect costs and pension accounting without changing net city spending.

What’s next: Council will hold a budget public hearing on July 17; the council expects final adoption of the FY2026 budget and millage ordinance on August 7.