Elgin council adopts 2026 budget, tax levy after split vote; one councilor dissents
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Summary
The Elgin City Council adopted the 2026 budget and approved the tax levy on Dec. 17, 2025, with an 8-1 vote; Councilor Alfaro voted against raising property taxes and said she would oppose the related three-year financial plan and budget for transparency reasons.
Elgin City Council on Dec. 17 adopted the city’s 2026 budget and approved the tax levy after debate over a proposed property-tax increase. The measures passed by an 8-1 vote, with Councilor Alfaro the lone dissent.
Councilors moved to adopt the 2026 budget in lieu of a separate appropriation ordinance and then approved the levy and assessment of taxes for the fiscal year. Council documents presented at the meeting note the budget and the three-year financial plan incorporated a planned property-tax increase in the coming year; Alfaro said she voted against the increase at the prior meeting and would oppose the budget and the three-year plan for transparency to constituents.
City staff said the budget package is intended to maintain services and fund ongoing projects; the three-year financial plan was described as including the anticipated year when new levy revenues would be realized. Roll call votes recorded the budget and related measures passing 8-1.
Council discussion also covered a separate ordinance establishing fees for city services. Councilor Alfaro questioned specific fee increases in the packet (refuse-collection sticker increase and cemetery fees) and asked staff to confirm whether changes were contract-driven; staff replied the refuse sticker change is part of an existing contract and some cemetery fees reflect contracted service costs. Staff said certain recreation and golf fees are set to attract nonresident users and that they would follow up on granular questions.
Procedural votes on other fiscal items included a resolution committing local match funds to pursue Federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) grants and a three-year financial plan that the council also approved 8-1. The agenda and roll calls for those items show the council’s procedural support for capital investment while noting at least one member’s public opposition to the tax component.
The council scheduled its next committee-of-the-whole meeting for Jan. 14, 2026, and the next regular meeting for Jan. 14, 2026, at 7 p.m.