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Beavercreek official outlines tight 2026 budget, deferrals and reliance on property taxes
Summary
An unnamed city official presented Beavercreek's proposed 2026 budget, highlighting heavy reliance on property taxes and grants (about 72% combined), $3.5 million in deferred projects, and pending resolution and ordinance items to adopt the budget and appropriations.
City official presented the proposed 2026 budget for Beavercreek, saying the city faces a lean year and has deferred $3,500,000 in projects and purchases to preserve reserves. "When we go through, the budget process... it's very involved," the official said, noting staff deliberately postponed equipment replacement and left positions unfilled to balance the fiscal year.
The official described a $47,400,000 revenue budget for 2026 and said property taxes make up about $30,300,000, or roughly 63.9 percent, of that total. Combined with grant revenues, property taxes and grants account for about 72 percent of the city's revenue, he said, stressing that grants often require cash matches funded by local property tax receipts.
The presentation listed total budgeted expenditures at $49,500,000 (excluding interfund transfers), about 9 percent lower than 2025, and attributed most of the decline to reduced grant-supported street projects and deferred capital spending. Wages and benefits remain the largest single category at $21,600,000 (43.6 percent), with an approximate $1,000,000 increase partly attributable to an extra payroll cycle in 2026 (the "27th pay" that occurs periodically).
The city official identified specific deferrals and cuts used to reduce the 2026 spending plan: delaying vehicle and equipment replacements, not filling certain positions, reducing contract services, and cutting travel and training. He cautioned that future state-level changes, including potential constitutional amendments to property tax rules, could materially affect local revenues and grant-match capacity.
Two budget-related measures are in the council packet and expected to be considered later in the meeting: the resolution referenced in the presentation as "resolution 20 five-thirty 3 accepting the '26 budget" and an "ordinance 25 26, the budget annual appropriations." The presentation did not record final votes on those items.
The city official said additional budget materials and the five-year capital improvement plan would be available on the city's website.
The council discussion and any formal action on the budget were described as forthcoming during the meeting.
