Councilman-elect warns of structural deficit; urges 5% cuts as Findlay readies 2026 budget

Rodney Phillips, councilman-elect for Ward 6, told Findlay City Council on Dec. 16 that he has reviewed the proposed 2026 budget and found a pattern in which expenses have outpaced revenue. "Revenue grows at close to 4% while expenses rise at 8%," he said, and he warned that without corrective action the city will erode its cash reserves.

Phillips said personnel costs have increased by roughly $6 million over two years and urged the auditor's office, the mayor's office and incoming council to "go back to the drawing board" and consider reductions. "Even a 5% reduction across the board would result in over $2,000,000 worth of savings," he said. Phillips asked for collaboration between administration and new council members in the two weeks before the Jan. 6 meeting so decisions can be made before payroll deadlines at month-end.

Council members and the mayor responded in the meeting: some expressed confidence in Phillips's presentation and agreed to meet, and the mayor described reconciliation steps and the complexity of municipal revenue timing. The mayor noted that reconciliation and year-end adjustments can affect the final picture and offered to work with Phillips and other councilmembers to review line items.

Next steps: Phillips and administration agreed to meet to review revenue projections and departmental spending before the council's January session; the mayor encouraged committee review and joint deliberations to identify feasible reductions without undermining essential services.