Council reviews 2026 appropriations, introduces tax-levy and rental-license fee increases

Council reviewed the city’s 2026 appropriations ordinance (Bill 21) on final reading and discussed related ordinances for the tax levy and rental-license fees that are part of the 2026 budget process.

Mayor Sherry Alcopello summarized the budget during the session, characterizing the overall change as roughly a 6% increase year-over-year. She said the city's current millage rate is 4.581 mills and proposed no tax increase for the 11th consecutive year. The mayor provided an example average assessed value of $104,636 and an approximate annual tax bill of $479 based on that rate.

Alcopello presented numbers for proposed revenue and expenditure changes; transcript phrasing contained an inconsistency in how the revenue increase was read aloud. Council and staff indicated the budget remains the subject of final review and that this meeting was the final work session on the budget.

Council also introduced the tax-levy ordinance; a public hearing is scheduled for Dec. 11, 2025 at 4:45 p.m. Additionally, an ordinance to increase residential rental-license fees was introduced: the fee for a residential rental unit would rise from $40 to $60 and the fee for a rooming-unit would rise from $20 to $30. Mayor Alcopello said license fees fund enforcement, staff and a rental registry and that the city plans to consolidate billing using new software; the mayor clarified payment is due within 30 days of billing and penalties apply for unpaid accounts.

What happens next: Bill 21 remains on final reading pending the formal vote; the tax-levy ordinance will proceed to a public hearing on Dec. 11, 2025; rental-license fee ordinance is introduced and will come back for further council action.