Beavercreek council adopts 2026 budget, cites $15M stormwater need and reserve strategy

Beavercreek — The Beavercreek City Council approved the 2026 city budget Tuesday, accepting a revenue plan of about $47.4 million and appropriations that staff said will preserve cash reserves while deferring roughly $3.5 million in capital and equipment purchases.

City manager Pete Landrum framed the package during a State of the City presentation and budget overview, telling the council that the city’s recently completed community-wide stormwater study ‘‘will help identify and prioritize the areas that need the most attention’’ and that the study identified ‘‘about $15,000,000 in needed capital improvements and about $1,200,000 in annual maintenance’’ needs. Landrum also said the city completed $5,000,000 in ARPA-funded stormwater and infrastructure work in 2025.

The adopted revenue budget relies heavily on property taxes, which Landrum said account for roughly $30.3 million or 63.9% of projected revenue; when combined with grants, he said those two sources represent about 72% of total revenue. Council approved Resolution 25-33 to accept the budget and Ordinance 25-26 to set annual appropriations for 2026. Staff explained that grant timing and a smaller grant pipeline in 2026 compared with 2027 drove a projected $4.4 million (9%) decrease in total budgeted expenditures versus the prior year.

Landrum said city wages and benefits represent the largest expenditure category at an estimated $21.6 million (roughly 43.6% of the budget) and that capital spending is budgeted at approximately $13.4 million. He noted a roughly $1 million increase in wages tied to an additional pay-period year effect (a ‘‘27th pay’’) rather than across-the-board hourly rate increases.

Council and staff approved year-end adjustments (Ordinance 25-27) that included a $700,000 appropriation to secure 62 acres near US 35 and Factory Road to preserve right-of-way for a future ODOT overpass and a $386,000 appropriation to cover earlier-than-planned purchases of Motorola dispatch stations for police operations. Staff said the land purchase was not previously budgeted and was brought forward for certification as a 2025 appropriation.

Councilmembers asked for follow-up updates on specific line items, including anticipated golf-course budget modifications, and staff agreed to provide additional detail in January. The city manager said the administration is keeping a minimum reserve balance target of 20% for regular operating funds and is deferring some capital to maintain that cushion.

The council voted to approve the budget and appropriations by voice and roll-call votes. The city manager directed residents to the city website for full budget documents and promised additional public materials and town-hall recordings.

Next steps: Staff will post detailed budget documents and the five-year capital plan online, and council requested a January update on golf-course line-item changes.