Finance director says 2026 budget leans on actuals; ARPA obligations complete but union talks pose risk
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Summary
Finance director Bob Kenick told council the proposed 2026 budget was built from recent actuals rather than prior appropriations; the city has fully obligated about $47 million in ARPA funds, but pending AFSCME and police contract negotiations and Broad Street Market commitments create upside risk to the budget.
Bob Kenick, Harrisburg’s finance director, presented the administration’s approach to the 2026 budget at a Dec. 8 council hearing, saying department submissions were refined using recent actual spending rather than prior budgets and that the city had fully obligated the roughly $47 million in ARPA funds.
Kenick said that the finance team used actuals to create a more conservative and realistic budget and acknowledged that the city faces particular risks: two outstanding union negotiations (police and AFSCME) and potential capital needs at Broad Street Market that could require mid‑cycle adjustments. He said no roles exceed the proposed standard 3% salary guideline in the current draft.
The finance bureau reported a slight net increase in their 2026 submission compared with a 2025 forecast (approximately $135,000) driven largely by positions that were vacant during 2025 but budgeted for 2026. The department also said it will continue to assist HR with the migration of payroll and benefits off the mainframe and will use SiteLogic IQ capital assessment findings to help prioritize facilities spending.
Council members thanked staff for building the budget from actuals and asked for follow‑up on other funds and transfers, which the administration scheduled for a subsequent meeting.