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City staff outline balanced 2026 operating budget, $1M capital transfer and parks master plan next steps
Summary
Director Miller told the Finance Committee the proposed 2026 operating budget is balanced at about $23.8 million in appropriations and revenue (excluding a planned $1 million transfer to capital). Staff previewed a March capital retreat on a 10-year infrastructure plan, said only one parks master plan proposal was received and that the old city hall building will remain in limited use pending master planning, with carrying costs estimated at $75,000–$100,000 annually.
City staff presented the proposed 2026 operating budget and related capital-planning work to the Grandview Heights Finance Committee, describing legal rules, revenue sources, and next steps for a multi-year infrastructure strategy.
Director Miller began with Ohio budget law basics and the city’s internal process, noting appropriations must not exceed available cash plus expected receipts and that the city uses five-year projections to assess sustainability. He told the committee the proposed general fund appropriations total about $23.8 million, with estimated general fund revenue of $23,817,289, producing a balanced operating budget when excluding a planned $1,000,000 transfer to capital projects.
Revenue picture: Miller emphasized the city’s heavy reliance on municipal income tax, which staff estimates will gross about $19.8 million and leave roughly $16,381,000 for the general fund after commitments and incentive obligations. He said income tax collections are recovering post-pandemic and that Grandview Yard accounts for about 35% of withholding-based income-tax receipts.
Capital planning and parks master plan: Staff said EP Ferris has supplied a 10-year infrastructure improvement plan and proposed a March 7 retreat to prioritize projects. The parks master plan RFP yielded one proposal; staff will review it and decide whether to reissue the RFP or proceed. No appropriation for the parks master plan is included in the current budget; staff said any appropriation would come later after proposal evaluation and community engagement.
Old city hall: Council asked whether funds earmarked for decommissioning the old city hall (1016 Grandview Avenue) could pay for parks planning or other needs. Staff said the building remains in limited operational use for storage and operations and that a status-quo approach is recommended until the parks master planning process determines best uses. Director Maxwell estimated carrying costs to maintain the building as-is at about $75,000 to $100,000 annually (heat, electric, and minimal maintenance).
Budget highlights: Staff outlined key increases (health insurance up about 8%, contractual services up due to the new building and camera systems) and listed planned transfers including $1,000,000 to capital and $175,000 for accrued leave payouts. Miller proposed a general fund reserve of $7.3 million (roughly 28% of expenditures) and noted pay increases of 3.75% were budgeted for most employees.
Next steps: Staff will return with refined appropriations after capital prioritization and parks master plan decisions. Council and the committee discussed scheduling a December work session and a March retreat for capital priorities; the committee recommended advancing the salary ordinance and continued budget review ahead of December adoption.
