South Lebanon reviews draft 2026 operating and capital budget, highlights community center project and revenue mix

The South Lebanon City Council received a presentation of the draft 2026 operating and capital budget from the city's finance director, identified in the meeting as Tina.

Tina described the budget as the city's primary fiscal planning document and walked council through revenue sources and spending priorities. The presentation referenced a total figure of "11.9" (the transcript does not specify units). She said charges for services — including water, sewer and trash — account for $3,500,000 of that total, and estimated income tax receipts at 2.775 (units not specified). Tina noted personnel costs represent roughly 14% of the combined funds for salaries, wages and benefits, while public safety-related spending accounted for about 7%.

Tina highlighted an upcoming community center improvement project listed at a little over $1,000,000, with an estimated city contribution of about $200,000 and anticipated grant funding of around $800,000. She also noted council recently approved funding for a water-tower rehabilitation project through an OPDWC/OPWC grant referenced in the presentation, and mentioned road stabilization projects tied to emergency funding. The finance director referenced a draft reviewed by the finance committee the prior week and said the city is planning both essential services funding and future capital projects.

Council members asked few substantive questions in the meeting; the budget presentation was informational and will proceed through the normal review and adoption process. Tina referenced a memo in the council packet showing historical bonus amounts and other financial details.

What happens next: the budget will move through committee and adoption steps per the city's budget calendar; any formal appropriations or budget adoption votes were not completed at this meeting (Ordinance 2025-27 was entered into the record as a first reading).